Smart Planting

At DEC, safety is our top priority. In our efforts to provide the people and places we power with the most reliable – and safe – electric service possible, maintaining vegetation around Co-op equipment is essential. The work we do through our Vegetation Management program helps prevent outages and enables our team to restore power faster when they occur – all while eliminating unnecessary hazards in the process. 

As a DEC member, you have the opportunity to help the Co-op in our efforts. How? By making sure you’re following DEC’s regulations on planting vegetation near and around our electrical equipment. Co-op rules prevent members from planting within ten feet in front of DEC equipment – such as transformers and switch gear boxes – as well as within five feet on either side or behind the equipment. These regulations help minimize risk to DEC employees and contractors, who could cut or puncture their protective gear when working with inappropriately placed vegetation. They also help ensure the safety of our members, who could face potential hazards if digging too close to electrical equipment.

If you notice plants, trees or flowers in your yard that do not comply with DEC’s regulations, the Co-op asks that members take safe steps to trim them back or remove them. If uprooting is required, remember to call 811 before you dig near electrical equipment. DEC appreciates our members’ efforts to help us honor our commitment to reliability and – more importantly – safety.

2026 Vegetation Management Inspection Schedule

As part of DEC’s commitment to reliability, our crews and contractors perform routine equipment and vegetation inspections across our lines to ensure our members continue to receive the quality electric service they have come to rely on. Below, you can find information about the areas of our system where inspections are being completed, as well as the types of inspections taking place. If you have any questions about DEC’s maintenance or vegetation management process, please call DEC at 855-332-9090.  

Pole Inspections: Working with local contractor crews, DEC routinely performs ground inspections of poles and pole-top equipment to check for weathering. Crews generally focus on the base of the pole, looking for any signs of decay that may impact its stability — increasing the likelihood of it falling during a major storm. Crews also include any pole equipment or attachments in their inspections. Currently, crews are performing pole inspections in the areas of Woodside, Felton, Smyrna and Hartly. 

Pad-Mounted Transformer Inspections: Making sure that the electrical equipment on your property — such as pad-mounted transformers— is clear of vegetation enables DEC employees to efficiently and safely “keep the lights on.” Members can help minimize the obstacles and safety hazards posed by overgrown vegetation by following DEC’s safe planting regulations. During pad-mounted transformer inspections, DEC crews and contractors have the authority to remove any vegetation or landscaping materials that extend beyond the safe planting zone, which is detailed at the link above. Beginning in mid-May, crews will be performing pad-mounted transformer inspections in developments and neighborhoods in the areas of Lewes, Milton, Milford and Ellendale.

Tree Trimming: An essential part of DEC’s vegetation management program involves tree trimming along Co-op lines. Trees and vegetation that grow too close to power lines have an increased potential to cause outages, as they are more likely to grow into the lines or fall on them during severe weather. Overgrown vegetation can also cause premature damage and decay in DEC poles. The Co-op works to prevent this by partnering with local contractors to clear trees and shrubs a safe distance from power lines and poles, removing overgrown vegetation from roughly 20% of our system annually. At this current rate, crews are able to cover our entire service territory every five years. Later this year, DEC will be trimming in the areas of Seaford, Laurel, Fenwick, Selbyville and Smyrna. Check back periodically for an updated timeframe for this work.