Resident petition asks township to press utility and PUC over recurring outages and dead trees

During audience comments on June 10, resident Tom Little presented a petition signed by 105 residents requesting the township's support in complaining to the utility and the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) about repeated power outages and dead trees near power lines. Little and other residents asked the township to add the petition to the meeting minutes and to consider joining a complaint to the PUC.

Solicitor Jonathan explained that the township’s authority is limited and the PUC controls utility regulation; he recommended the township pursue a range of actions including requesting a meeting with the utility (MedEd, as referred to in discussion), contacting state legislators to set a meeting locally, and drafting a letter in support of residents' complaints. He also noted that easement records are parcel-specific and that the township’s recorded rights often do not address tree-cutting authority; the PUC’s rules require utilities to clear vegetation to maintain service, and residents asked the board to press for enforcement and scheduling for the circuits serving Williams Township.

The board agreed to consider drafting a letter and to have staff and solicitor help prepare a complaint or meeting request to the PUC and lawmakers; the board did not adopt a formal complaint at the meeting but committed to follow up and place the item on a future agenda so the township could decide whether to join citizens’ efforts.

Why it matters: recurring outages and tree-related risks affect reliability and public safety; involving the township may add political weight to residents' requests for utility action and PUC enforcement.