Payments to contractors for tree felling around power lines

Original Request

For the previous 5 years, what is the total monetary amount the MUA spent on tree clearing services via 3rd party contractors. Please break down into amount per year for high voltage and low voltage.

Data Tables (2)

Full Response Text

Manx Utilities PO Box 177, Douglas Isle of Man, IM99 1PS

e: enquiries@manxutilities.im t: 01624 687687 www.manxutilities.im

Our ref: 4599783 13 May 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 16 April 2025, which states:

"For the previous 5 years, what is the total monetary amount the MUA spent on tree clearing services via 3rd party contractors. Please break down into amount per year for high voltage and low voltage."

Our response to your request is as follows:

We can supply total costs for the past 5 financial years High Voltage (HV) and Low Voltage (LV) that that relate to Tree Cutting contractual works.

2020/21 2021/22 2022/23 2023/24 2024/25 Grand Total HV 41,210.00 33,200.00 78,219.99 302,788.03 321,698.06 777,116.08 LV 118,395.00 228,480.00 198,245.00 284,680.80 285,550.41 1,115,351.21 Total 159,605.00 261,680.00 276,464.99 587,468.83 607,248.47 1,892,467.29

In addition to above, further costs of £107,857 were incurred for ‘storm events’ from 2021 to date. There have been 8 events recorded, that required 3rd party contractor emergency tree cutting services – for context there have been 30 named storms in this period. We are unable to split this between LV and HV, without detailed analysis, due to the nature of these events and how the job costs are recorded.

The figures do show an increase in spend over the period. Initially this was due to reduced management during Covid restrictions. It also reflects the subsequent concerted effort and outsourcing, initially on the LV and then the HV networks, to invest in vegetation management, maintenance and prevention of damage to the network.

Manx Utilities maintain over 540km of overhead lines, and 1,380 of underground cables on the electricity network, serving over 44,500 homes and 6,450 businesses.

Please quote the reference number 4599783 in any future communications.

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