[Bobcuse]

This morning I received a text message followed by an email which said Seco would be inspecting transformers & meters in my area for obstructions. It said to remove plants, shrubs and fences from areas near equipment and if crews are unable to access equipment my service may be disconnected.

Fortunately I do not have one of those large electrical boxes on my property which require 10' clearance on all sides. However, I live in a villa and my meter is on the outside garage wall which faces my neighbor's driveway. Along that wall in front of the meter is a 5' high x 3' wide hedge but the meter is just above the top of the hedge and clearly visible. The problem could be accessing the meter if work is needed and the SECO clearance instructions say that the meter requires 3' clearance on both sides and in front of the meter which essentially means the hedge must come out. So if my neighbor's hedge doesn't come out my service could be disconnected.

My frustration is that when these villas were constructed in 2003 every villa had a hedge planted along the garage wall obviously for aesthetic purposes. I assume the codes and clearance requirements were known by the contractors and inspectors, although those hedges were likely 1 gallon plants at the time and nobody noticed. I hope SECO would at least notify the residents if these hedges are actually an obstruction before we all proceed to begin tearing them out and/or before they pull the plug. Below is a link to the requirements provided by SECO. I plan to call SECO to clarify but everyone likely may have the same question.

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy

[retiredguy123]

The hedge in front of your meter is most likely in the easement area that is the respnsibility of your next door neighbor to maintain. Bummer.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Bobcuse

This morning I received a text message followed by an email which said Seco would be inspecting transformers & meters in my area for obstructions. It said to remove plants, shrubs and fences from areas near equipment and if crews are unable to access equipment my service may be disconnected.

Fortunately I do not have one of those large electrical boxes on my property which require 10' clearance on all sides. However, I live in a villa and my meter is on the outside garage wall which faces my neighbor's driveway. Along that wall in front of the meter is a 5' high x 3' wide hedge but the meter is just above the top of the hedge and clearly visible. The problem could be accessing the meter if work is needed and the SECO clearance instructions say that the meter requires 3' clearance on both sides and in front of the meter which essentially means the hedge must come out. So if my neighbor's hedge doesn't come out my service could be disconnected.

My frustration is that when these villas were constructed in 2003 every villa had a hedge planted along the garage wall obviously for aesthetic purposes. I assume the codes and clearance requirements were known by the contractors and inspectors, although those hedges were likely 1 gallon plants at the time and nobody noticed. I hope SECO would at least notify the residents if these hedges are actually an obstruction before we all proceed to begin tearing them out and/or before they pull the plug. Below is a link to the requirements provided by SECO. I plan to call SECO to clarify but everyone likely may have the same question.

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy

It appears that SECO is methodically and systematically sending these notices to each neighborhood and area.

I have heard all kinds of reactions from ignoring them to digging up and replanting after the "inspection".


We dug up our lovely bushes and now the view from our nice glassed in lanai gives us excellent view of the big ugly utility box.'

Others have said we are sissies.

We have always done what the rule said to do.

It is so ugly. SO ugly and the bushes masked it so well. It took my dear husband the better part of the day to get the three bushes out.

We are also the kind of folks that if a police officer said stop we would stop and I will not say any more and get in trouble.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I work at an electric and gas utility, and its nice to hear when people make it easy and safe for the utility workers who are handling high voltage which can and occassionally does kill them, so that they can quickly get your service back up and running. We have lots of really nice and helpful people who go out of their way working during storms to keep the energy flowing to everyone as quickly as possible.

Especially to avoid those fines which the regulator's impose for not servicing your accounts in a timely manner after a storm. We have had staged contractors during winter storms, and had not had a call, eating several millions of dollars, and then we have a few bad fall storms not considered special by the weather service and fined half a million . . . so the least you can do is make the box safe and accessible for your energy needs

sportsguy




You wouldn't want to have any down time with TOTV catching up on the important news of the day!

[CWGUY]

I also received the same text this morning. I didn't care for the way it was worded at all..... they didn't talk to me like I was one of the owners. From their web site - "One of the most important distinctions between other types of utilities and SECO is that we are member owned." Since when is it o.k. for the employees to threaten the owner? Just think it could have been worded nicer. The other thing I'd like to know is ..... when is SECO going to start taking better care of the equipment? The several near my home could use a little TLC. Maybe centered up on their pad, painted, and some new stickers and numbers.

Let's see if I have to do my next post on my cell phone..... in the dark.

Originally Posted by Bobcuse

This morning I received a text message followed by an email which said Seco would be inspecting transformers & meters in my area for obstructions. It said to remove plants, shrubs and fences from areas near equipment and if crews are unable to access equipment my service may be disconnected.

Fortunately I do not have one of those large electrical boxes on my property which require 10' clearance on all sides. However, I live in a villa and my meter is on the outside garage wall which faces my neighbor's driveway. Along that wall in front of the meter is a 5' high x 3' wide hedge but the meter is just above the top of the hedge and clearly visible. The problem could be accessing the meter if work is needed and the SECO clearance instructions say that the meter requires 3' clearance on both sides and in front of the meter which essentially means the hedge must come out. So if my neighbor's hedge doesn't come out my service could be disconnected.

My frustration is that when these villas were constructed in 2003 every villa had a hedge planted along the garage wall obviously for aesthetic purposes. I assume the codes and clearance requirements were known by the contractors and inspectors, although those hedges were likely 1 gallon plants at the time and nobody noticed. I hope SECO would at least notify the residents if these hedges are actually an obstruction before we all proceed to begin tearing them out and/or before they pull the plug. Below is a link to the requirements provided by SECO. I plan to call SECO to clarify but everyone likely may have the same question.

Keep It Clear – SECO Energy

That’s your neighbors easement area and it must conform to deed restrictions. Talk to your neighbor first and show him the email. If that doesn’t work send him a letter then bring the planting into compliance. It is your property.

[asianthree]

The big ugly box is next door, the really pretty bushes with 6” diameter, and 7’ tall were cut down about a 6” from the ground. Then left all the bushes in the yard. So if you don’t take care of it, you get to fall over the 6” stubs left in the yard, and the dying bushes next to them

[egmcaninch]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

I work at an electric and gas utility, and its nice to hear when people make it easy and safe for the utility workers who are handling high voltage which can and occassionally does kill them, so that they can quickly get your service back up and running. We have lots of really nice and helpful people who go out of their way working during storms to keep the energy flowing to everyone as quickly as possible.

Especially to avoid those fines which the regulator's impose for not servicing your accounts in a timely manner after a storm. We have had staged contractors during winter storms, and had not had a call, eating several millions of dollars, and then we have a few bad fall storms not considered special by the weather service and fined half a million . . . so the least you can do is make the box safe and accessible for your energy needs

sportsguy




You wouldn't want to have any down time with TOTV catching up on the important news of the day!

Are you saying that shrubs at homes have contributed to the deaths of utility workers?

[chipd331]

they have already been to my house twice
Said "everything within 36" must be removed and if it is 36" with overhanging branches, limbs etc.. the overhanging parts need to be 6ft. of the ground
they made me remove a bush that was 32" away.
They have told me a neighbor of mine whom has a $15k tree, has to remove it
Or else be fined
The Lady was out with a measuring tape and taking pictures and jotting down notes
Of course i told her, "this is not my equipment" if you want it cleared, you pay for it"
then she started spouting the rehearsed speech that made no sense but in the end she said it's an OCEA requirement
We haven't heard the last of this one yet

[msilagy]

I have a 6ft bush in front of my electric box. Even tho it's a villa and faces my neighbors driveway it is my electric box so I trimmed the bush 3 ft back. It doesn't look great but a technician could go there to read the box. Just because in courtyard villas that area may be the responsibility of the neighbor - it's MY electric box! I am not the type of personality that looks to others to do my bidding!

[dlebuis]

They’ve been in our neighborhood too. People have had to take out bushes, plants and trees. Now they’re making people move their light poles. One that was 4” too close to the flush mounted electrical plate in our front yards. Costing a lot of money and very stressful. They’re saying we have 30 days to comply or risk $50 add on to bill or possibly service turned off. I feel sorry for person that has to come out to tell people the bad news. Our beautiful yards have been left with a big empty space in our front yards.

[airdale2]

if your yard is SOOOOOOO much trouble, sell the house & move into an apartment.

[Papa_lecki]

They can fine you , but they cant turn your power off.

Imagine the press if someone dies because their oxygen machine cant work because a bush was too close to an electric box.

[Tom53]

Originally Posted by chipd331

they have already been to my house twice
Said "everything within 36" must be removed and if it is 36" with overhanging branches, limbs etc.. the overhanging parts need to be 6ft. of the ground
they made me remove a bush that was 32" away.
They have told me a neighbor of mine whom has a $15k tree, has to remove it
Or else be fined
The Lady was out with a measuring tape and taking pictures and jotting down notes
Of course i told her, "this is not my equipment" if you want it cleared, you pay for it"
then she started spouting the rehearsed speech that made no sense but in the end she said it's an OCEA requirement
We haven't heard the last of this one yet

It's actually an OSHA requirement (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), who's purpose is to ensure worker safety.

[sentry]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

It appears that SECO is methodically and systematically sending these notices to each neighborhood and area.

I have heard all kinds of reactions from ignoring them to digging up and replanting after the "inspection".


We dug up our lovely bushes and now the view from our nice glassed in lanai gives us excellent view of the big ugly utility box.'

Others have said we are sissies.

We have always done what the rule said to do.

It is so ugly. SO ugly and the bushes masked it so well. It took my dear husband the better part of the day to get the three bushes out.

We are also the kind of folks that if a police officer said stop we would stop and I will not say any more and get in trouble.

SECO just has to be able to read the meter. If any work has to be done to the meter base that is yours to repair not SECO