EQUS
Sustainable System Management

Sustainable System Management is about ensuring that EQUS' distribution system provides safe and reliable electricity throughout rural Alberta in a way that minimizes environmental impact and is cost efficient for members.

The EQUS Service Area is incredibly environmentally diverse, ranging from densely treed boreal, to the foothills of the Rockies, to vast expanses of arid agricultural and grasslands. Our practices have been adapted to ensure we're operating in a way that takes these ecological differences into consideration, and minimizes the impact of our operations. 

EQUS practices sustainable system management in our operations, in our business relationships, in our purchasing, and in our facilities. Learn about our unique Near Net-Zero offices here.

Vegetation Management

Trees and powerlines don’t mix. Having vegetation too close to power lines is dangerous for everyone. Falling or blowing branches and trees can bring down live power lines which can lead to brushfires, property damage, and severe injuries.

To maintain a safe electrical system, vegetation near power lines must be managed to ensure a safe minimum clearance between power lines and vegetation. To minimize the hazards to EQUS members, the public, and our crews, EQUS’ Vegetation Management Program operates on a five-year preventative maintenance cycle.

EQUS crews prune and trim trees in accordance with recognized best practices, and remove any dead or hazardous trees that are at risk of falling. Highly selective and safe herbicides are also sometimes applied to control regrowth of incompatible vegetation, while encouraging the growth of compatible species and minimizing overall impact on the surrounding environment.

Sustainable vegetation management is critical to reducing risk for everyone, and ensuring the delivery of safe and reliable electricity.

 

 

Avian Management

EQUS’ Avian Management Plan supports the protection of migratory birds and their habitats by minimizing habitat disturbances during breeding and nesting seasons, reducing hazards, and supporting partner conservation organizations by providing safe nesting options.

When birds come into contact with live power lines and nest on power poles they can hurt themselves, and cause power outages and electrical fires. To reduce the risk of harm to nesting birds EQUS utilizes nesting deterrents and whenever possible, EQUS contractors and crews ensure maintenance work is scheduled to occur outside of key nesting periods and consult with biologists and government regulators when necessary.

EQUS is proud to be an Alberta Conservation Association (ACA) Partner in Conservation. EQUS works with the ACA and other conservation organizations throughout our province by providing and installing power poles to be used for nesting by birds such as falcons, hawks, bats and more.  

Download EQUS' Avian Management Plan


View the Alberta Conservation Association's Hawk Cameras

 

Members are free to purchase electricity services from a retailer of their choice. For a list of retailers, visit http://www.ucahelps.alberta.ca or call 310.4822 (toll free in Alberta).

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