Because trees are the main cause of power outages in Kitsap County, Puget Sound Energy is piloting a new tree trimming project in an effort to decrease the outages in the Chico, Seabeck, Crosby and Holly areas.

Currently in the planning phase, PSE is assessing diseased or dying trees and is identifying areas to be targeted for this program. Tree work is expected to begin in early April and finish in September, according to PSE’s website.

Customers in the West Kitsap area are served by a 54-mile long power line that runs through dense forested areas. The power line is one of the least reliable in PSE’s service territory, with the majority of power outages caused by trees and branches calling onto the line. This is why PSE has identified the area as a pilot program aimed at reducing outages through a new tree pruning technique.

Tree crews in bucket trucks and safety personnel will be working along side the neighborhood roadways this summer in the areas of the Seabeck Highway from approximately Northlake Way to Holly Road, Holly Road to Seabeck-Holly Road, Seabeck-Holly Road to Tekiu Road, and Peter Hagen Road Lewis Road, Lake Tahuyeh Road and Wildcat Lake Road.

The tree pruning program is based on results from an independent study of PSE’s vegetation management system and will be monitored by certified arborists. The pruning technique will expand the buffer between trees and power lines by removing all overhanging branches above the lines, sometimes called “lines to sky” pruning.

Residents and businesses near the project area will be notified before work begins. The goal of PSE is to complete work with as little disruption as possible.

More information is available by contacting PSE Municipal Liaison Manager and Certified Arborist Tom Brobst at (360) 745-7020 or questions can be emailed to info@psekitsaptree.com.