Washington , D.C. - With the spring landscaping season in full bloom, Pepco is encouraging customers to plant the right tree in the right place to avoid power lines and prevent electrical outages.

"April is Earth Month and a good time to remind our customers of the importance of healthy trees to the environment, but there also is a need to be aware of overhead wires and underground electric equipment," said Vincent Orange, Vice President, Pepco Region.

" Pruning trees is key to maintaining electrical reliability and it also directly affects public safety," Orange said. "Pepco prunes trees on a regular basis to minimize the possibility of power outages from trees growing into overhead lines."

Pepco has consistently been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Line USA Utility for supporting the dual goals of reliable utility service and abundant, healthy trees in America's communities.

Pepco offers the following tree-planting guidelines:

Tall Trees

Maple, Sycamore, Oak, Spruce and Pine - These trees should be more than 50 feet away from power lines.

Medium Trees

Birch, Serviceberry, and Honey Locust - These trees, which grow to a height of 40 feet or less, should be planted at least 20 feet from power lines.

Small Trees

Dogwood, Flowering Cherry, Crabapple, Purple Leaf Plum and Japanese Red Maple - These trees, which grow slowly and to no higher than 25 feet, are recommended for areas close to power lines.

In addition, Pepco offers the following safety guidelines for planting and trimming trees located near electrical equipment:

o Use only qualified line-clearance tree workers when trimming within 10 feet of energized electrical lines.

o Avoid planting trees directly under power lines.

o If there is a pad-mounted transformer (green metal box) in your yard, please make sure there is a 12-foot cleared space in front of the door to permit our crews to service the transformer.

Pepco also wants to remind the public to call the free utility locating service about two to 10 days before any hand digging, excavating, boring, pile-driving or blasting occurs. This is done to ensure no underground lines are hit during the digging process. The number for Miss Utility is: 811.

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Pepco, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), delivers safe, reliable and affordable electric service to more than 750,000 customers in Maryland and the District of Columbia.