Right-Of-Way Stewardship Council

The Right-of-Way Stewardship Council (ROWSC) is the only accreditation program that has established standards for responsible right-of-way (ROW) vegetation management. The program promotes the application of integrated vegetation management (IVM) and best management practices (BMPs) to the utility vegetation management industry to maintain power system reliability and address ecological concerns. The ROWSC was established in 2013 as a program within Dovetail Partners Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit environmental think tank serving as program administrator. ROWSC uses an accreditation model to provide standards of excellence for environmental stewardship and presents the opportunity for utility companies to demonstrate their commitment to such standards. The ROWSC established its standards based on a set of predetermined principles and criteria, requires a formal application process, and enlists third-party auditors to ensure compliance with standards. 

Current Accredited utilities, recognized by the ROWSC as “A Right-of Way Steward Utility,” are: 

o AltaLink

o Arizona Public Service (APS)

o Bonneville Power Administration (BPA)

o FirstEnergy

o New York Power Authority (NYPA)

o Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)

o Vermont Electric Company (VELCO)

Former accredited utilities:

o Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)

The ROWSC Accreditation Standards for Assessing Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) Excellence establish the technical requirements for applicants seeking ROW Steward accreditation.

Vision of the ROWSC:

To be a leader in promoting responsible vegetation management along North American right-of-ways.

Mission Statement:

To benefit society and the environment by promoting sustainable resource management principles and practices on right-of-ways.