At Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative (RVEC), reliable electricity starts with safe, clear access to our power lines and electrical equipment. Right-of-way access enables our crews to inspect, maintain, repair, and replace equipment, helping us continue providing reliable service to our member-owners.
You can help by keeping areas around power lines, poles, meters, transformers, and other electrical equipment clear and accessible. A little planning can make a big difference by keeping our crews safe and helping us restore power more quickly when outages occur.
Watch our Right-of-Way Animation to learn why access to electric facilities matters and how you can help keep our electric system safe and reliable.
A right-of-way is an area where RVEC has the legal right to access and maintain electric facilities. These areas enable our employees and authorized contractors to reach power lines, poles, and other equipment for routine maintenance, vegetation management, repairs, and emergency response.
Keeping these areas accessible helps our crews work safely and efficiently while maintaining the reliability of your electric service.
Keep access routes clear. Avoid parking vehicles, placing equipment, storing materials, or leaving other obstacles that could block crews from reaching electrical facilities.
Keep meters and equipment accessible. Avoid placing fences, landscaping, firewood, sheds, or other items that could block access to meters, transformers, and other electrical equipment.
Plant trees and shrubs carefully. Consider the mature size of trees and plants before planting near power lines, poles, and electrical equipment. Trees growing too close to power lines can pose safety hazards and contribute to outages.
Keep gates and entrances accessible. If electric facilities are located behind gates or along private drives, help ensure that authorized RVEC personnel can access them for maintenance or repairs, consistent with applicable access rights.
Contact RVEC before making changes. Before installing fences, building structures, planting trees, or making other changes near electric facilities, contact RVEC if you are unsure about clearance requirements or equipment locations.
Call 811 Before You Dig
Planning to install a fence, plant a tree, build a deck, or complete another digging project? Before you dig, contact Iowa One Call at 811 or https://iowaonecall.com/.
Underground electric lines and other utilities may be buried where you plan to work. Locating underground utilities before excavation helps protect you, your property, and the people who provide essential utility services.
Remember: Know what's below. Call 811 before digging!
Trees and other vegetation growing too close to power lines can pose safety hazards, damage equipment, and cause power outages, especially during storms and high winds.
RVEC manages vegetation around our electric facilities to help maintain safe clearances and reliable service. Members can help by:
Never attempt to trim or remove trees or branches near power lines. Contact RVEC for guidance. Always stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately.
Clear access helps RVEC:
Maintaining clear access to our electric facilities is a shared responsibility. By keeping areas around meters, power lines, poles, and other equipment clear, you help RVEC crews do their jobs safely and efficiently.
Have questions about right-of-way access, vegetation management, or electrical equipment on your property? Contact RVEC before starting any project near our facilities.