What are the long-term effects of repeated vegetation contact on the integrity of overhead conductors, beyond immediate outages?

While immediate outages are a primary concern with vegetation contact on overhead conductors, repeated contact causes several long-term effects that compromise conductor integrity. One significant effect is conductor abrasion. The rubbing of branches against the conductor surface wears away the outer layers, reducing the conductor's diameter and its ability to carry current. This abrasion can eventually lead to conductor failure. Another eff....