Behind the grid: How Dominion Energy preps for hurricanes to hit the Lowcountry
πͺοΈ Lowcountry families and utility companies are preparing for the upcoming hurricane season.
β‘ Dominion Energy treats hurricane readiness as a year-round effort to strengthen the power grid.
π³ The company partnered with Charleston on a vegetation management initiative called "Right Tree, Right Place."
π§ Dominion crews removed nearly 200 palmetto trees near critical infrastructure in the Eastside neighborhood.
π± The city committed to planting five new trees for every one removed as part of the initiative.
β οΈ Palmetto trees were targeted because they cannot be pruned and become hazards over 15 feet tall.
π Removing these trees aims to prevent outages from falling limbs damaging power lines during storms.
π Such projects are expected to improve grid reliability and speed up restoration efforts after major storms.
π Even though the Lowcountry avoided major direct impacts last season, Dominion says each storm provides lessons.
π€ The company is expanding response plans and strengthening coordination between crews for this season.
π Dominion Energy encourages customers to charge devices before storms arrive.
π Residents are advised to review emergency plans and keep disaster supply kits stocked throughout the season.
- Dominion Energy partnered with the City of Charleston on a vegetation management initiative called 'Right Tree, Right Place' to remove nearly 200 palmetto trees near critical infrastructure.
- The city committed to planting five new trees for every one removed, enhancing community resilience while reducing storm risks.
- Projects like this help improve grid reliability and speed up restoration efforts after major storms.
- Even though the Lowcountry avoided major direct hurricane impacts last season, Dominion Energy uses each storm to refine operations and improve preparation efforts.
- The company has continued expanding response plans and strengthening coordination between crews to restore power more efficiently.
- Despite avoiding major direct impacts last season, Dominion Energy states that each storm provides lessons to refine operations, implying a history of operational adjustments following severe weather events.
- The utility is removing nearly 200 palmetto trees in the Eastside neighborhood because they cannot be pruned once exceeding 15 feet, indicating inherent vegetation risks near critical infrastructure that require active management.