Tree trimming to take place in Breakwater Park area

With Infrastructure upgrades required along King Street near Breakwater Park, Utilities Kingston is working with trained arborists to prune trees around high voltage lines in the area before work begins. This is being done in order to minimize the impact to trees, according to Utilities Kingston.

“Trees are important to the health and safety of our community, helping to mitigate the impacts of carbon emissions. We’re consulting with trained arborists to reduce the impact of this work on the tree cover, while ensuring the continued safety and reliability of electricity services in central Kingston,” said Jim Keech, President and CEO, who notes that Utilities Kingston plants two trees for every one that must be removed due to safety concerns.

According to a release from Utilities Kingston on Wednesday, Mar. 3, 2021, this work has been expedited because two circuits have faulted and have reached the end of their expected life. Utilities Kingston said they are upgrading the infrastructure on King Street, between Beverly Street and Lower University Avenue, to ensure the continued reliability of power in the hospital and university districts.

Utilities Kingston provides these key points about tree trimming:

• To ensure worker and public health and safety, and to meet regulatory requirements, Utilities Kingston contracts trained arborists to trim the trees in the entire Kingston Hydro distribution area over a three-year period.  Much of this work is part of the regular tree trimming program.
• Where possible, Utilities Kingston has adapted the electrical design to save trees, for example by installing taller hydro poles than the design standards require.
• Tree removal will only occur only if absolutely needed to ensure the safe and reliable distribution of power.
• For every publicly owned tree removed, Utilities Kingston funds replacement with two trees within the city.
• A diagram outlining this tree trimming activity is available at UtilitiesKingston.com.

Power outages may be required to support this work, and Utilities Kingston will communicate directly with impacted customers in advance.

Utilities Kingston said they apologize for any inconvenience.

“This work helps to ensure a reliable source of electricity to you, our customers,” the utilities provider said.

For more information, the public can contact Utilities Kingston customer service, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 613-546-0000.