ATCO Earns Accreditation as a Right-of-Way Steward

• 9/19/2023

ATCO Earns Accreditation as a Right-of-Way Steward
ATCO joins utilities in leading the way towards responsible ROW vegetation management 

19 September 2023, (Minneapolis, MN) - The Right-Of-Way Stewardship Council (ROWSC) is pleased to announce that ATCO Electric has successfully achieved accreditation as a "Right-of-Way Steward" for sustainable integrated vegetation management (IVM) of their electric transmission right-of-way systems. ATCO is now one of only nine utility companies currently qualified to achieve ROWSC accreditation.

“We are proud to be recognized for our hard work and dedication to integrated vegetation management on our electric transmission rights-of-way,” said Amanda Mattern, Vice President, Operations, ATCO Electric. “The Right-of-Way Stewardship Council accreditation is a strong affirmation that our procedures are aligned with the industry’s best practices, and that we are leaders in caring for the environment and the communities where we have the privilege to operate.”

ATCO is a large electrical and gas utility located in Alberta, Canada. It is committed to the responsible, reliable, and safe operation and maintenance of its electrical and pipeline infrastructure, which includes approximately 11,000 kilometers of transmission lines along rights-of-way. These rights-of-way traverse grasslands, parklands, foothills, boreal forests, and mountainous regions, and ATCO Electric’s use of IVM aids in minimizing encroachment by vegetation in these areas, preventing vegetation related outages.

The ROWSC program provides standards of excellence for environmental stewardship and presents the opportunity for utility companies to demonstrate their commitment to such standards. This accreditation establishes ATCO as an industry leader and recognizes ATCO for their longstanding dedication to integrated vegetation management best practices. The audit report finds that ATCO especially excels in their public education programs, specifically in their partnerships with Indigenous communities throughout their IVM planning and implementation process, and their promotion of IVM practices to other companies managing rights-of-way. ATCO has also supported development of the industry’s Utility Vegetation Management Professional Development Program and their own team members participation in the program.

The ROWSC has established rigorous management standards based on a set of predetermined principles, requires a formal application process, and enlists third-party auditors to ensure compliance with the standards. The ROWSC Accreditation Standards for Assessing Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Excellence establish the technical requirements for applicants seeking ROW Steward accreditation. The standards are applied in an independent audit of an applicant's integrated vegetation management program to aid in identifying excellence.

The Right-of-Way Stewardship Council extends warm congratulations to ATCO on receiving this award and for being a recognized industry leader in sustainable ROW vegetation management.

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Pictured above, left to right:  Dennis Fallon – UAA, Lewis Payne - ROWSC Chair, and ATCO team members:  Codi Van Maurik, Neil Harpe, Robert Collinge, Darcy Soderstrom, and Sarah Walker