Eversource is in the process of cutting healthy trees up to 100 feet away from utility lines on private property at rate payer expense under a new non-transparent Pilot Program. Is this how Eversource should be spending hard earned ratepayer dollars?
Not only is this Pilot Program an affront to ratepayers, it is also endangering the environment by cutting healthy, old growth trees. At a recent meeting in Madison, CT Eversource said that it will cut trees in flood hazard zones with no evaluation as to the impact the tree removal may have on health and safety related to flooding. The Town of Madison has been unclear as to whether they will comply with their own regulations related to Eversource cutting trees within 100 feet of wetland properties.
Although we understand that Eversource needs to be proactive about removing dead trees that may cause utility outages, this Pilot Program is using ratepayer dollars to cut, stump and grind even healthy trees on private properties as far as back as 100 feet from the road.
Help us make Eversource accountable by providing each targeted town with a list of trees designated to be cut, the cost to ratepayers for this work, a mandatory review of trees to be removed in flood zones or wetland areas and time for each town and neighborhood to have a thorough review of the proposal.
