Several representatives from American Electric Power attended Monday night's Athens city council committee meeting to address recent complaints the company has received from local residents.
Tim Seyfang, manager of the Athens District of AEP showed the council and audience members a PowerPoint slideshow entitled the City of Athens Reliability Update.
The slideshow indicated what improvements AEP had made over the past two years and how they plan to spend an estimated $1.3 million on improvements in 2006.
Seyfang explained why a series of power outages and an electrical fire occurred in May, affecting several uptown businesses such as Casa Nueva, 4 W. State St.
The outages were due to a greater electrical load than the conductor could handle. The outages could have been avoided if customers had contacted AEP when they increased the load on their end, Seyfand said.
Another issue that AEP representative Steve Standley addressed was vegetation management issues because several Athens residents have complained about the way the electric company trims residents' trees.
Members of the Athens Shade Tree Commission were present to voice their concern that the practices AEP uses when its employees trim trees around power lines could permanently damage the trees or make them look unattractive.
Standley assured members that AEP follows the American National Standards Institute's pruning standards.
David Ingram of the Athens Shade Tree Commission pointed out that the topping G
and it's going to kill (the trees) eventually Ingram said.
Loraine McCosker of Elm Wood recommended that AEP should have a certified arborist on site when pruning trees or at least train those who are doing the trimming. She also recommended education for consumers about the importance of trees.
Don Stemple, AEP customer service engineer, wrapped up AEP's presentation by suggesting that the company and its customers need to communicate better to solve problems.
City council did not take any action, but suggested that AEP looks into amending its franchise agreement with the city to include some of the suggestions that Athens residents made.
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Skye Agnew
