Nova Scotia Power and Halifax tussle over tree-trimming cost, method
How much does it cost to trim a tree in Halifax? Depends who you ask.
From the city's perspective, Halifax's vegetation is maintained to optimize tree health. Nova Scotia Power's interest is in protecting its electrical infrastructure.
On Monday, the Halifax Regional Municipality issued a notice seeking contractors to trim trees in the city's south end.
The document seeks two pricing structures: one for the city's basic pruning cost, and another for "additional costs to achieve clearance from power lines in accordance with CSA Standard."
The outcome of this tendering process launched will offer an industry-based price comparison between the two tree-trimming approaches. This is the third year this approach has been used.
The negotiation over who is responsible for trimming Halifax's trees — and who pays for it — has been ongoing for two years.
Blame Arthur
In 2014, post-tropical storm Arthur made landfall in Nova Scotia and more than 245,000 people were left without electricity. It took a week for power to be fully restored.
Six weeks later, Nova Scotia Power published a report investigating why the outage was so widespread. It placed much of the blame on trees.
The utility sought permission to remove trees from public land that it deemed hazardous to its power lines.
City officials in Halifax argued that handing over authority to Nova Scotia Power could threaten areas like the Public Gardens, parklands and streetscapes.
The issue went to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, which ruled Halifax has authority over its trees.
Formal agreement expired in 2013
Halifax may have authority, but there is still a risk to power lines.
Trimming trees that threaten the utility's lines was previous covered under a memorandum of understanding between Nova Scotia Power and the city. That memorandum expired in 2013.
The utility has been operating under the same understanding, said Beverly Ware, spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power.
The city says it has been operating on a case-by-case basis, said Tiffany Chase, spokesperson for Halifax.
Nova Scotia Power expects a new memorandum of understanding to be in place by next year's winter storm season, said Ware.
Meanwhile, companies interested in Halifax's tree-trimming work have until Sept. 13 to submit bids.
Correction : An earlier version of this story said this is the first time the city of Halifax is seeking a price comparison between two methods of tree trimming. In fact, this is the third year the city is using this method.(Aug 29, 2016 4:02 PM)
