CLEVELAND, Ohio — Northeast Ohio residents may notice low-flying helicopters carrying large saws this fall, as FirstEnergy begins trimming trees and vegetation along high-voltage transmission lines in four counties.

The utility announced Thursday that the helicopter-mounted aerial saw will be deployed in Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga and Ashtabula counties. The effort is part of FirstEnergy’s grid modernization program, Energize365, a multiyear $28 billion investment to improve service reliability.

Company officials said the aerial saw helps clear limbs that could cause power outages during severe weather. Maintaining proper clearance around transmission lines also improves access for workers to inspect equipment and make repairs more quickly if an outage occurs.

The aerial saw, suspended from

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