Do you ever think about the miles of lines those invisible electrons travel down to make it to your home? Well, GVEC sure does. GVEC’s vast service territory is connected with extensive spans of poles, wires and cables that hum along to deliver electricity, fiber internet and connection beyond the meter into your home.
A right-of-way easement is an area or strip of land GVEC uses to construct, upgrade, repair, and maintain electrical and fiber lines and equipment. So if you receive electricity and/or fiber from GVEC, you have an easement on your property. For safety’s sake and the best possible electric service, it’s important that easements be kept clear so GVEC crews can access overhead and underground lines.
Vegetation Management
One of the main culprits of electric line and fiber cable interference is encroaching vegetation. Tree limbs or other vegetation that makes
contact with the lines can reduce efficiency, cause damage that could lead to an outage and create a potential safety hazard. Trees and vegetation in the easement can also block access, cause service delays, make repairs more difficult and extend outage times.
That’s why our vegetation control team is dedicated to the strategic maintenance of easements for the safety of our workers, members and the electric system. They accomplish this through pre-construction planning, brush removal, regular tree trimming and annual proactive programs. Our trained professionals ensure that the equipment, products and methods used for vegetation control are environmentally conscience, EPA- approved and up to Texas Department of Agriculture standards.
With summer upon us, you will likely be seeing our trucks or contract crews performing these types of activities. On average, our crews complete nearly 1,000 miles of maintenance, inspect 11,500 poles and replace 825 of those poles inspected. So if you see them working in your area, give them a friendly wave—they’re just making sure everything stays in tip-top shape!
Pole and Wire Inspections
Beyond vegetation management, you will find GVEC inspecting the lines and wood utility poles within the easements as well. These inspections are conducted by qualified personnel, often in partnership with our contractors. The inspection process involves digging, drilling, sounding tests and protective wrapping, all aimed at assessing the structural integrity of utility poles.
We are bringing fiber internet to more places by using our resources wisely. You may see GVEC personnel or contract crews working to attach the fiber cables to the utility pole or making a field visit for further planning and maintenance.
In embracing technological advancements, GVEC has an unmanned aerial vehicle, or drone, to use for aerial inspections. This drone is a swift and efficient tool for patrolling the lines. Our licensed pilots operate the drone within specified altitude parameters and are confined to designated easements or right-of-way areas.
When you see us in your area you can be confident in knowing GVEC is dedicated to delivering uninterrupted services to you!
