The Public Service Commission holds an open meeting to discuss the recommendations of the PSC staff regarding power outages that resulted from the July 19th and 21st severe weather that blasted eastern Missouri. Among the recommendations is perhaps the key suggestion that more be done to trim trees and other vegetation that come close to encroaching on power lines. Ron Zdellar with Ameren, the state’s largest electric utility, says Ameren and other utilities are restricted from doing all they can in terms of tree trimming because of property rights issues. Tens of thousands of Ameren customers experienced power outages during and following the storms. Zdellar says utilities that act unilaterally in cutting trees and shrubs could leave themselves open to legal action from property owners. He says authority to do all that is recommended might have to come from elected officials at the local or state levels. Ameren will present its own recommendations to the PSC on January 4th.