West Penn Power steps up $40M tree trimming program

West Penn Power Co. has stepped up efforts to clear trees and other vegetation from near its power lines serving roughly 720,000 customers across a 24-county territory in southwestern Pennsylvania. The Greensburg electric utility plans to spend $40 million in 2017 to trim nearly 5,000 miles of circuit miles. The company said tree contractors have already trimmed more than 1,000 miles of lines, with an additional 3,900 miles to be completed by year end. The utility will spend about $7 million to remove more than 56,000 ash trees infected with the emerald ash borer. It will be in the following Allegheny County communities in upcoming months: Bethel Park, Cheswick, Natrona Heights, Peters, Springdale and Upper St. Clair.