Vegetation Program Development & Optimization

ECI recognizes that any service provided by a consulting firm is really only as good as the bench strength of the consultant’s team. That is why at ECI, we have assembled a consulting team of the top professionals in the Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) industry. Each member of our senior staff averages more than 30 years of experience in vegetation management consulting and utility operations.

ECI’s Consulting Services group includes specialists in transmission rights-of-way management, distribution line clearance operations, and wood pole maintenance programs. We specialize in utility vegetation management issues, including everything from high-level program assessments to workload surveys and development of site-specific work plans. Whether you are a large investor owned electric utility, a small municipal or electric cooperative or a major gas transmission company, we have a service that can be tailored to meet your needs.

ECI is consistently at the forefront in the development of reliability-focused, risk-based, cost-effective UVM programs. Clients implementing our program initiatives and recommendations have realized dramatic improvements in reliability, significant cost savings, reduced risk, enhance regulatory compliance and overall improvements in operational effectiveness. In addition, ECI’s programs enhance the public’s perception of vegetation management operations.

ECI has identified distribution and transmission program recommendations that have allowed utilities to:

  • Achieve reductions in long-term workload and costs after the first cycle
  • Achieve reliability improvement goals by significantly reducing tree-caused outages
  • Obtain recommended clearances
  • Improve public and worker safety Justify and stabilize annual budgets
  • Obtain customer acceptance of pruning techniques and clearance requirements
  • Improve utility customer UVM program public relations
  • Secure approval of program improvements by regulatory and municipal officials
  • Meet established timelines and schedules for implementation
  • Complete entire workload within budget estimates
  • Better ensure regulatory compliance