Utility Vegetation Management Bill on Hold

A bill to regulate utility companies' management of vegetation around utility poles and wires is dead, at least for now.

"We pulled that matter off [the Montgomery County Council's agenda] because the county attorney had advised us that our legal authority with respect to tree trimming was circumscribed, and so we would need to retest the legislation," said Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner (D-Bethesda), who had proposed the bill along with Councilman Marc B. Elrich (D-at large) of Takoma Park.

But, the proposal hasn't disappeared.

"We are figuring out together how best we can proceed. ... [We're] figuring out the best and most responsible path forward," Berliner said.

Meanwhile, many county residents are not pleased with Pepco's management of vegetation around utility poles and wires. Last spring, Bethesda residents vowed to fight Pepco's plans to cut nearly 80 trees in an easement near Pooks Hill Road, .

Other county residents would prefer to see more vegetation cut back, so that fewer trees and tree limbs might fall on power lines in the next storm.

Would you rather see more vegetation trimming or less? Should property owners be more proactive in tree trimming on their properties? Tell us in the comments.