Tree-trimming has always been a

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1 Quick facts about MTEMC s treetrimming program 1. MTEMC s tree-trimming program maintains approximately 10,000 miles of energized line. This distance is equivalent to two round trips from Murfreesboro to Seattle. 2. Part of the responsibility MTEMC bears for maintaining its rights of way has safety implications. Trees growing into power lines are a real danger for kids who like to climb them. 3. Eight out of 10 power outages are linked to tree limbs and branches making contact with the lines. Did you know? Tenne ssee was one of the first states to adopt Arbor Day. The date set for observing the tree-planting holiday varies from state to state, depending on climate. In Tennessee, the date falls on the first Friday of March. This year, Arbor Day will be recognized on March 5. However, this was not always the case. In 1875, when Tennessee first recognized Arbor Day, it was set for the first Friday in April. This was changed in 1946 to the first Friday in March. Cu stomer service Report an outage MTEMC Tree-trimming is necessary but not always most popular Tree-trimming has always been a sensitive issue. While we realize the task of trimming trees may not always be the most popular, it is our hope that our members can recognize why we do it. And though we are compassionate to the members who express their concerns, it is our moral and legal responsibility to provide you with the most efficient, reliable, low-cost power possible. It s an idea that sounds easy, but I can assure you it s a most difficult task. Unfortunately, in staying consistent with our mission, trees that grow into our rights of way or into the lines must be trimmed back and sometimes removed. (Please see the diagram on page 17 to learn about planting trees near power lines.) Our goals are, as always, to stay proactive in this process and work to make our program better. Tree-trimming program Our program adheres to the latest tree-trimming practices as set forth by the International Society of Arboriculture. Keeping the trees out of the rights of way is necessary to ensure safety and reliability. Right-of-way specialists Our right-of-way specialists are certified arborists who coordinate with members and the crews doing the tree-cutting. Their job is to make sure homeowners understand about the work being performed and to make sure the job is done correctly. To further bolster this effort, we have contracted with ACRT Inc., a professional urban forestry consulting firm that makes recommendations on maintaining our rights Frank Jennings of way. President Communication Middle Tennessee Electric An important part of Membership Corporation the tree-trimming process is to communicate what we re doing. We do this by using our resources like The Tennessee Magazine, media re leases, printed materials like door hangers and, of course, our right-ofway specialists who are in the field communicating directly with the membership. We understand tree-trimming isn t always what s most popular, but we hope you understand we have to do what s best for the membership as a whole. It s our goal to continue examining what we re doing and looking for ways to improve these efforts. While we realize the task of trimming trees may not always be the most popular, it is our hope that our members can recognize why we do it. 16 The Tennessee Magazine

2 MTEMC s residential tree-trimming Policies and processes defining MTEMC s efforts to ensure electric lines are free from obstruction. Trees and limbs that come in contact with power lines are by far the most common cause of power outages for Middle Tennessee Electric customers. That s why MTEMC has one of the most carefully planned and executed tree-trimming programs among electric providers in the nation. Service interruptions are costly and inconvenient for cooperative members as well as for Middle Tennessee Electric employees. When you see crews out trimming trees around power lines, remember that it s one of the most difficult and critical jobs your cooperative has. Right of way Middle Tennessee Electric s right of way extends 20 feet on both sides of the lines. (See Illustration 1) Tree-trimming methods Middle Tennessee Electric s tree-trimming guidelines are designed to reflect recommendations of urban foresters and experts from the National Arborist Association and International Society of Arboriculture. Tree removal may be necessary because repetitive trimming of fast-growing trees in or near electric rights of way is costly and temporary. Trees that are heavily trimmed in an attempt to avoid removal often develop extensive internal decay. Side pruning trims the branches growing toward lines on one side of the tree. Trees 20 feet or farther away from the center power line may be side-pruned. (See Illustration 2) Crown reduction removes the main leader or leaders to a suitable lateral branch. This method is suited to slowgrowing trees located under the power line. Fast-growing trees should be removed. (See Illustration 3) Tree removal and replacement MTEMC will not remove trees unless they pose a threat to your electric service. If we do so, you may qualify for our tree-replacement program, where we will replace the tree at no charge to you. For more information, log on to MTEMC s Web site at *Illustrations not to scale. Illustration 1 Illustration 2 Illustration 3 17

3 Franklin member says TVA s IHEE has made home tighter Since participating in the Tennessee Valley Authority s In-Home Energy Evaluation (IHEE), Middle Tennessee Electric member Gary Higginbotham of Franklin says he has a tighter, more efficient home. We have not seen our first bill yet, but we want to believe we already see the effects of our investment, Higginbotham said. Our home is definitely tighter and less drafty, and I ve noticed there s smaller temperature variations thoughout the house. We ve also noticed the heat-and-air system runs a lot less. The program is offered to Middle Tennessee Electric members who are willing to pay $150 for the evaluation. However, participants can get that money back if they perform at least $150 of energy-efficient measures recommended by a TVA-certified evaluator. Higgenbotham felt the program would lower his electric bills, increase the comfort of his home and provide his family with a return on the investment. We saw the ad for the program in our monthly bill statement, Higgenbotham said. So I called the phone number, got the details and had a TVA evaluator out at our house within a couple of days. Higginbotham says the detailed report for his family s 2,800-square-foot home included an estimated payback period on each of the recommendations. This helped us to prioritize which paybacks would be most beneficial the quickest and has helped us in creating a plan to eventually have all the recommendations completed, Higgenbotham said. The report indicated the home was losing quite a bit of MTEMC s Energy Services Coordinator Lynn Borum, right, discusses the In-Home Energy Evaluation program details with Franklin MTEMC member Gary Higginbotham. See page 19 to learn more about the evaluations. air from its 11-year-old ductwork system, where the supply lines were separating from the main trunk. Often times, there s quite a bit of energy loss in a home s attic or crawlspace area where the heat-and-air supply lines are found, especially if the lines are not sealed properly, MTEMC Energy Services Coordinator Lynn Borum said. A home s heat-and-air unit accounts for roughly 50 percent of an electric bill. Higgenbotham took care of the ductwork problem first, saying he felt it would have the most immediate payback. We got the trunk lines and return areas sealed up quickly and fixed the leaky attic access doors where air was escaping, Higgenbotham said. It was also recommended that we add insulation in our attic, but I think we re going to wait and do that as time and money allow. Since the IHEE pilot program began in the summer of 2009, more than 300 evaluations have been performed in the Middle Tennessee Electric service area. Middle Tennessee Electric condensed sta tis ti cal monthly re port Kilowatt-hours sold Revenue from sales Paid to TVA for power Number of meters served Average kwh per res i dence Average residential bill Miles of line in service Value of lines in service Earnings (for new lines and debt pay ments) Cost of new lines built Long-term debt to RUS and CFC December 2008 November 2009 December ,918,886 $43,430,150 $35,787, ,787 1,582 $ ,187 $325,670,549 $2,630,592 $4,308,033 $68,552, ,751,188 $29,678,281 $23,204, ,459 1,055 $ ,290 $340,817,414 $717,672 $3,028,511 $66,636, ,946,750 $32,273,794 $25,399, ,624 1,372 $ ,293 $341,723,746 $1,026,595 $3,473,144 $66,443,918 Residential rate schedule Customer charge Energy charge All kwh FCA per kwh per month (December) Security light rates 100-watt sodium 250-watt sodium $9.79 $ $ $5.75 $ The Tennessee Magazine

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5 January d o na tio ns Jay Banks Productions Williamson and Wilson counties $5,000 Second Harvest Food Bank Cannon, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson counties $10,000 Trauma Survivors Network/ Vanderbilt Cannon, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson counties $5,090 Sexual Assault Center Williamson County $3,000 Feed America First of Tennessee Cannon, Rutherford, Williamson and Wilson counties $10,000 15th Judicial District Child Advocacy Center Wilson County $2,500 Wilson County Black History Committee $10,000 Total $45,590 Feed America First Executive Director Tom Henry displays a replica check for $10,000 from Middle Tennessee Electric Customers Care. MTE Customers Care Inc. Giving back to the cooperative s communities Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation s Customers Care has donated $10,000 of Operation Round Up funds to Feed America First. These funds are going to help us enhance our operation, which will allow us to feed more families in Tennessee, Feed America First Executive Director Tom Henry said. Feed America First is a nonprofit organization that provides food to groups that feed the hungry. Since June 2000, Feed America First has distributed 18 million pounds of food to agencies throughout Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi. Operation Round Up began in 2003 and has distributed more than $3 million into MTEMC s communities. MTE Customers Care funds may not be used for political or expressly religious purposes, schools or school-related organizations. For more information, log on to or call Middle Tennessee Electric Customers Care Statement of Finances ROUND UP Rutherford Williamson Wilson Cannon Total Beginning balance $13,872.75* $18, $33,974.99* $4, $71, Contributions (incoming) December 2009 December funds available $18, $32, $25, $43, $16, $50, $2, $7, $62, $133, Grants (outgoing) January 2010 $4, $14, $23, $4, $45, Ending balance $28, $29, $26, *Beginning balance adjusted due to previous month s posting error $3, $87,