APUA says keep tree branches controlled

With a month and a half to go before the end of the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season the Antigua public Utilities Authority says one of its main challenges in preparing for a tropical system is vegetation management.

That’s the cutting of overhanging trees that contacts high tension wires.

APUA”s Distribution and Transmission Engineer Lyndon Francis says APUA has a responsibility to cut trees that are a danger to the network.

While this is the case, he is appealing to homeowners to assist the authority in this regard.

“From time to time, we interrupt your electricity on a planned basis for us to cut trees. We do seek public cooperation, especially homeowners. If you have a tree, we ask you to keep it controlled and within reasonable distance from the power line.”

Francis says if it gets to that stage where APUA has no other choice but to assist the public in cutting that tree that is emanating from their compound “it may be an opportunity for the public to assist APUA and offset some of the cost,” that they incur.

He adds that this is all in an effort to minimize the risk of electrocution.

The hurricane season runs from July 1 to Nobember 30.