Prepare Now for Next Year’s Planting Season

With our service territory in the thick of harvest season, it may seem like an odd time to remind members about the importance of practicing safe planting around electrical equipment. However, it’s never too soon to take your safety — and that of our DEC team — into consideration when planning your 2027 planting projects.

According to DEC’s rules and regulations of service, members cannot plant any vegetation within 10 feet in front of electrical equipment or within 5 feet on either side or behind it, including the space around the equipment’s corners. While shrubs, bushes and flowers may add an element of natural beauty to your home landscaping, planting them too close to transformer boxes and power pedestals can interfere with our employees’ ability to safely access the equipment. If an employee’s protective equipment or clothing is punctured by vegetation planted within this boundary, it can leave them vulnerable to potentially life-threatening injuries. 

Planting within the designated safety perimeter also puts you and your loved ones at risk of coming into contact with underground electric lines. That’s why members must contact Delmarva 811 before starting any outdoor projects that require digging. Once you call, a cable locator will visit your property to check for power lines beneath your proposed planting site. 

While planting season may be months away, DEC asks members to be mindful of these rules when preparing for spring planting. For more information on safe planting practices, visit the Co-op's Smart Planting page.