Appalachian Power Plans Yearlong Vegetation Trimming in McDowell and Mercer Counties

Appalachian Power has begun vegetation management work that will run through December 31, 2026, along portions of its 34.5-kilovolt and 12-kilovolt distribution system in Mercer County and McDowell County, West Virginia. Contract crews started work on or about January 10 and will trim and remove trees and brush along rights of way to maintain necessary clearances for safe and reliable electric service.

Work will follow International Society of Arboriculture guidelines and will take into account factors such as tree species, growth characteristics and line voltage. In unmaintained or undeveloped areas, cuttings will remain on site to minimize soil disturbance and to promote biodegradation rather than hauling debris away. Rights of way named in the program include locations such as Welch Maitland, McDowell County WV, and Beltscher Mt. Maitland, McDowell County WV, among others.

Local residents should expect to see contract crews working along power line corridors and on adjacent properties. Representatives from Appalachian Power will attempt to personally contact resident property owners at least seven business days prior to working on their property to discuss specifics. Nonresident property owners with questions about right-of-way maintenance are instructed to call Appalachian Power Company Forestry Department at 304-327-2232.

For householders and businesses in McDowell and Mercer counties, the trimming program aims to reduce the risk of outages caused by vegetation contact and to improve overall reliability of the distribution system. Maintaining clearances on 34.5-kilovolt and 12-kilovolt lines is a routine utility practice that supports safety and helps prevent service interruptions during storms or high-growth seasons. At the same time, residents may notice changes to tree lines, increased vehicle and crew activity on rural roads, and brush piles left in less-developed areas as part of the company’s approach to minimizing soil disturbance.

This yearlong effort touches both everyday life and local infrastructure resilience. For property owners, the most immediate consequence will be coordinated site visits and potential trimming of trees that pose a risk to power lines. For the wider community, effective vegetation management is an investment in reducing outage frequency and in protecting critical services for homes, businesses and emergency responders.

Appalachian Power’s forestry contacts and the seven-business-day notification process provide clear steps for residents to follow; expect continued crew presence across the named rights of way through the end of the year as the company completes the trimming program.