NEC Retail is holding the third annual Arbor Day Free Tree Give Away on Friday, April 24 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Members can pick up a Shumard Oak seedling from either the NEC Retail office located in Robstown or their parent company, Nueces Electric Cooperative, located in Calallen.

We are an electric company, so why are we giving away trees? Simply put, trees help lower electric usage in the summer by providing shade thus reducing the amount of AC loss. In the winter, trees can act as insulators from the cold wind, thus reducing thus higher than normal winter bills.  It’s a win-win for all seasons!

But be sure to watch where you dig when planting your tree. Before you dig, be sure to call 8-1-1 to see if you have any electric, gas or water lines running under your yard. Hitting a line could cause a big headache as well as several hundred dollars in out of pocket costs to get it fixed.

Additionally, when you plant your trees, be aware of where you are planting them. It is recommended that you plan trees at least 20-30 feet from a power line. As the tree grows, take care of it by trimming the branches so you never have to worry about them getting caught in the lines.

Finally, planting trees helps us reduce our carbon footprint and increase our air quality. NEC Retail and our power generator, STEC, take caution at all times to be environmentally friendlyand this is just one more way we can give back to the earth..and to you!