When storms roll through Louisiana, members want power restored quickly and safely. That’s why DEMCO invests heavily in right-of-way (ROW) maintenance — one of the most important, and often unseen, responsibilities of a rural electric cooperative.

What is ROW and Why Does It Matter?

A right-of-way is the land around DEMCO’s power lines that must be kept clear to build, operate, and maintain safe electric service.

By managing vegetation in these areas, DEMCO:

• Reduces the frequency and duration of outages.
• Improves safety for the public and for DEMCO employees and contractors.
• Ensures crews can quickly access poles and lines during restoration efforts.

It’s not just about trimming trees — it’s about making sure crews can safely and efficiently get to the lines when outages occur.

Year-Round Maintenance

ROW maintenance is an ongoing responsibility. DEMCO follows a six-year mechanical maintenance cycle, clearing all 137 distribution circuits on schedule. In between, vegetation crews stationed at each of DEMCO’s six district offices address issues as they arise — like limbs on lines, dead trees, or overgrowth blocking access.

This proactive cycle doesn’t stop storms or high winds from bringing down trees, but it does reduce risks, improve reliability, and make restoration efforts faster and safer when outages do happen.

Helicopter Trimming: A Specialized Tool

In some areas, traditional ground crews aren’t the most efficient option. That’s where helicopter trimming with aerial saws comes in.

Helicopter trimming allows DEMCO to:

• Clear tall trees and dense canopies more quickly than manual crews.
• Safely maintain areas where access from the ground is limited.
• Cover long stretches of line in less time, reducing system risk.

Helicopters aren’t used everywhere — only where they are the best tool for the job. After aerial trimming, mulching crews follow up to manage debris.

And because safety is always DEMCO’s top priority, daily safety meetings, traffic control, and landowner notifications are part of every operation.

A Shared Investment in Reliability

Right-of-way maintenance is one of DEMCO’s largest ongoing expenses, but it’s also one of the most important. It’s a shared investment by all members — one that pays off in fewer outages, quicker restoration, and safer conditions for crews.

You may not always see it happening, but ROW maintenance is working behind the scenes to protect your power and help DEMCO continue powering life and community for generations to come.

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