Award recognizes company’s commitment to tree care
and service reliability
April 22, 2008
The National Arbor Day Foundation has named NSTAR a
Tree Line USA Utility in recognition of the company’s
dedication to promoting healthy tree growth while
performing the trimming necessary to maintain reliable
electric service. The award specifically highlights
NSTAR’s commitment to natural tree pruning as its method
of choice when trimming around electric lines.
“This national recognition is an affirmation of the many benefits our tree maintenance program provides,” said Paul Sellers, senior arborist for NSTAR. “Promoting the natural growth of trees along our community roadways is a vital part of our commitment to delivering great customer service.”
NSTAR’s tree maintenance program combines pre-planning by certified arborists and foresters, proactive community outreach, and natural pruning that replaces the outdated line-clearing practice of “topping” trees. Natural pruning trains trees to grow around wires and retains more of their natural form. The results are healthier trees and a more effective program because natural pruning has to be done less frequently than topping. This successful combination has resulted in widespread acceptance of NSTAR’s program by state and local forestry experts.
NSTAR is the largest Massachusetts-based, investor-owned electric and gas utility. The company transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas to 1.4 million customers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts, including more than one million electric customers in 81 communities and 300,000 gas customers in 51 communities.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.
