Right-of-Way Stewardship Council Announces First Two Utility Accreditations

• 10/01/2013

Arizona and Vermont Lead the Way Towards Responsible ROW Vegetation Management

The Right-of-Way Stewardship Council (ROWSC) is pleased to announce that Arizona Public Service and Vermont Electric Power Company, Inc. have each been officially accredited as a "Right-of-Way Steward" for sustainable integrated vegetation management of their respective electric transmission right-of-way systems. This accreditation is effective September 27, 2013 and Arizona Public Service and Vermont Electric Power Company, Inc. will be recognized with the 'Right-of-Way Steward Founder's Award’ for their leadership in receiving the first two ROWSC accreditations globally.

The ROWSC program provides standards of excellence for environmental stewardship and presents the opportunity for utility companies to demonstrate their commitment to such standards. While initially focused on the North American high-voltage power grid, the program will be easily adaptable to other ROW users.

The ROWSC model follows the lead of the Electrical Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) Standards for Assessing Performance of Integrated Vegetation Management on Rights-of-Way and is informed by other well-established accreditation programs in the industry such as the Forest Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. The ROWSC establishes rigorous management standards based on a set of predetermined principles, requires a formal application process, and enlists third-party auditors to ensure compliance with standards.

"We are thrilled that Arizona Public Service and Vermont Electric Power Company have taken the lead as pilot accreditations in responsible right-of-way vegetation management and look forward to accrediting additional electric utility companies in the future", says Derek Vannice, ROWSC Board Chair.

Dovetail Partners and the Right-of-Way Stewardship Council extend warm congratulations to both companies on receiving this award and for being leaders in your industry.