Resident Seeing Red Over SCE&G Tree Trimming

(WOLO) COLUMBIA,S.C., — Mike Sharpe says he came home and found contractors in his yard removing his entire tree line separating his backyard from a commercial property in his backyard. Sharpe says he is not only upset that they took out between 29 and 31 trees, leaving nothing but stumps, but he says they’ve also ruined the privacy he had grown to love about his yard, without a moments notice. “I feel like somebody took something from me. i don;t care if they were scrub oaks, bushes, or vines for that matter. i liked them. They gave me cover and more importantly, they were mine.” While a spokesperson for SCE&G says they followed proper protocol and procedures which allow them to clear the right of way by removing any tree limbs or brush within a 15 foot radius of a electrical line. SCE&G says the maintenance is performed every 5 years, to ensure the safety of their field crews, decrease the chances of power outages in the event of a storm, and to help them provide reliable service. In addition, officials say they notify all customers prior to any work. Sharpe claims he never received notification of any kind and is looking into the possibility of finding legal council. While it won’t bring his trees back, he hopes it will keep other residents from going through the same thing. To find out more about tree trimming requirements and when one could head to your community you an contact officials by calling 1800-251-7234 or log onto SCE&G.com