IURC Shows interest in YOUR TREE COMMENTS
Dear Neighbors and Friends:
The message below concerns a statewide investigation undertaken by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) into the tree trimming practices by utilities. Jerry Baker and Charlie Goodman have been working diligently to move this process. Government is supposed to work for the citizens so getting to this point has been an accomplishment of what should be. Having achieved this accomplishment to date, please take the opportunity to supply your experiences with utility tree trimming to the IURC as requested below.
This is a statewide investigation that includes all utilities operating in Indiana, not just Indianapolis Power and Light in the Indianapolis area. Please forward this message and opportunity about sending comments to IURC to your contacts around the state who are concerned about this issue.
Sincerely,
MAStevens
TPAN Secretary
_____
Greetings to All:
Cindy and I hope you will read and consider responding to this important notice. It affects every property owner and every citizen in the state.
The fact that this opportunity even exists proves that a small number of people can make a big difference.
If you have questions or comments, please let us know.
Regards,
Cindy and Jerry Baker
TREES NEAR POWER LINES—A STATEWIDE INVESTIGATION
To all interested parties:
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) has announced a statewide investigation into utility tree trimming practices and tariffs. This is a critical development in the effort to pass effective legislation towards curbing abusive tree trimming and violations of property rights by electric utilities.
The IURC investigation is the direct result of a petition filed by Charles Goodman, a volunteer citizen lobbyist, representing hundreds of property owners, and Sen. James Merritt, Jr., chairman of the Senate Utility Committee, who has decided to delay legislation while the IURC gathers information statewide. A report by the IURC to the Legislature is due in late November. This investigation is the key to forge real change.
Your voice and your story can be heard and can make a difference!
Now is the time to tell your story—-any grievance you have had with the power line tree-trimming crews, or with policies of your electric utility, should be put on record now! Don't wait for the chain saws to return to your neighborhood to complain. Mr. Goodman has gotten serious State-level attention for this matter, and if this opportunity is wasted, this issue may never be taken seriously again.
Here is what you can do. Write, fax or e-mail your complaint, story, or comments to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor—OUCC—at the addresses below.
Reference IURC Cause #43663
E-mail: uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov
Fax: 317-232-5923
Mail: Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Please send a copy of your OUCC correspondence to Charles Goodman for the purpose of an archive that he can refer to if necessary.
The OUCC technical and legal team assigned to this case will review all letters from consumers, which will be filed with the IURC for inclusion in the case's formal evidentiary record and their report to the Legislature.
Please follow through and tell your story factually and thoughtfully to have it included in the record.
The utilities like to believe, and tell everyone who will listen, that "only a few people are unhappy about how they cut trees".
Appear in Person
At some time after August 19th, the IURC will hold field hearings where you can appear in person and provide oral comments under oath. When the schedule for these hearings is available, we will forward it, or you will be able to find it on the OUCC website at www.IN.gov/oucc .You can also monitor local newspapers, legal notices and television.
You can participate in the hearings even if you have already sent a letter. You can either read the complete letter into the record, give a summary of your thoughts and a typed copy of your full remarks to the court, or simply offer your letter for inclusion. Or, you can offer a different slant on your opinions or experiences.
Photos, maps, surveys or other pertinent documents are considered very effective for making your case.
Thank you for your interest in, and support of, this worthwhile cause.
Contact information:
Jerry Baker
Email cjbaker47@comcast.net
Address 8561 Moore Rd.
Indianapolis IN 46278
Charles H Goodman
Address 2313 No. Graham Av.
Indianapolis IN. 46218
Phone 317-356-2499
TREES NEAR POWER LINES---FACTS, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
FACTS:
Safe, reliable electric power matters to all of us.
Tall growing trees near power lines are not compatible and will have to be trimmed or removed. Trimmed trees are almost always ugly, or worse.
Electric Utilities, like all businesses, like to keep costs down.
Property Owners have rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Trees on private property, or in Easements, remain the property of the landowner. Trees in City—Indianapolis-- Right-of-Way (ROW) fall under the control of the Parks Department, which can authorize their trimming or removal.
PROBLEMS:
Placement of power poles next to ROW lines commonly requires trimming or removing trees standing on private property, not in a ROW, causing loss and damage to the property and possibly the property value.
IPL—at least—has declared the “right to enter upon, and trim or remove trees from private property, at their discretion, to protect their equipment”, without obtaining permission from or being obligated to compensate property owners.
Property owners are commonly unaware of where Easement, or ROW boundaries exist on their property, and what their rights are in those areas.
Utilities are powerful. Accountability is minimal or very expensive (take them to court).
SOLUTIONS
Tariff language overriding property rights must be rescinded.
Property owners should study their surveys carefully, and know where they have rights.
Proper, legal easement rights must be obtained for all areas where trimming needs to be done. Compensation for lost vegetation, or loss of use of property must be paid at appraised values. Free replacement with acceptable plantings must be an option offered to property owners at utilities’ expense.
The viability of burying all power lines should be studied and pursued.
The message below concerns a statewide investigation undertaken by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) into the tree trimming practices by utilities. Jerry Baker and Charlie Goodman have been working diligently to move this process. Government is supposed to work for the citizens so getting to this point has been an accomplishment of what should be. Having achieved this accomplishment to date, please take the opportunity to supply your experiences with utility tree trimming to the IURC as requested below.
This is a statewide investigation that includes all utilities operating in Indiana, not just Indianapolis Power and Light in the Indianapolis area. Please forward this message and opportunity about sending comments to IURC to your contacts around the state who are concerned about this issue.
Sincerely,
MAStevens
TPAN Secretary
_____
Greetings to All:
Cindy and I hope you will read and consider responding to this important notice. It affects every property owner and every citizen in the state.
The fact that this opportunity even exists proves that a small number of people can make a big difference.
If you have questions or comments, please let us know.
Regards,
Cindy and Jerry Baker
TREES NEAR POWER LINES—A STATEWIDE INVESTIGATION
To all interested parties:
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) has announced a statewide investigation into utility tree trimming practices and tariffs. This is a critical development in the effort to pass effective legislation towards curbing abusive tree trimming and violations of property rights by electric utilities.
The IURC investigation is the direct result of a petition filed by Charles Goodman, a volunteer citizen lobbyist, representing hundreds of property owners, and Sen. James Merritt, Jr., chairman of the Senate Utility Committee, who has decided to delay legislation while the IURC gathers information statewide. A report by the IURC to the Legislature is due in late November. This investigation is the key to forge real change.
Your voice and your story can be heard and can make a difference!
Now is the time to tell your story—-any grievance you have had with the power line tree-trimming crews, or with policies of your electric utility, should be put on record now! Don't wait for the chain saws to return to your neighborhood to complain. Mr. Goodman has gotten serious State-level attention for this matter, and if this opportunity is wasted, this issue may never be taken seriously again.
Here is what you can do. Write, fax or e-mail your complaint, story, or comments to the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor—OUCC—at the addresses below.
Reference IURC Cause #43663
E-mail: uccinfo@oucc.IN.gov
Fax: 317-232-5923
Mail: Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor
115 W. Washington St., Suite 1500 South
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Please send a copy of your OUCC correspondence to Charles Goodman for the purpose of an archive that he can refer to if necessary.
The OUCC technical and legal team assigned to this case will review all letters from consumers, which will be filed with the IURC for inclusion in the case's formal evidentiary record and their report to the Legislature.
Please follow through and tell your story factually and thoughtfully to have it included in the record.
The utilities like to believe, and tell everyone who will listen, that "only a few people are unhappy about how they cut trees".
Appear in Person
At some time after August 19th, the IURC will hold field hearings where you can appear in person and provide oral comments under oath. When the schedule for these hearings is available, we will forward it, or you will be able to find it on the OUCC website at www.IN.gov/oucc .You can also monitor local newspapers, legal notices and television.
You can participate in the hearings even if you have already sent a letter. You can either read the complete letter into the record, give a summary of your thoughts and a typed copy of your full remarks to the court, or simply offer your letter for inclusion. Or, you can offer a different slant on your opinions or experiences.
Photos, maps, surveys or other pertinent documents are considered very effective for making your case.
Thank you for your interest in, and support of, this worthwhile cause.
Contact information:
Jerry Baker
Email cjbaker47@comcast.net
Address 8561 Moore Rd.
Indianapolis IN 46278
Charles H Goodman
Address 2313 No. Graham Av.
Indianapolis IN. 46218
Phone 317-356-2499
TREES NEAR POWER LINES---FACTS, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS
FACTS:
Safe, reliable electric power matters to all of us.
Tall growing trees near power lines are not compatible and will have to be trimmed or removed. Trimmed trees are almost always ugly, or worse.
Electric Utilities, like all businesses, like to keep costs down.
Property Owners have rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Trees on private property, or in Easements, remain the property of the landowner. Trees in City—Indianapolis-- Right-of-Way (ROW) fall under the control of the Parks Department, which can authorize their trimming or removal.
PROBLEMS:
Placement of power poles next to ROW lines commonly requires trimming or removing trees standing on private property, not in a ROW, causing loss and damage to the property and possibly the property value.
IPL—at least—has declared the “right to enter upon, and trim or remove trees from private property, at their discretion, to protect their equipment”, without obtaining permission from or being obligated to compensate property owners.
Property owners are commonly unaware of where Easement, or ROW boundaries exist on their property, and what their rights are in those areas.
Utilities are powerful. Accountability is minimal or very expensive (take them to court).
SOLUTIONS
Tariff language overriding property rights must be rescinded.
Property owners should study their surveys carefully, and know where they have rights.
Proper, legal easement rights must be obtained for all areas where trimming needs to be done. Compensation for lost vegetation, or loss of use of property must be paid at appraised values. Free replacement with acceptable plantings must be an option offered to property owners at utilities’ expense.
The viability of burying all power lines should be studied and pursued.
posted by Ross Reller at 7:15 AM
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