When tree limbs cozy up too close to power lines, it spells trouble. Think of it: those branches, dancing wildly in the wind, could snap those lines without breaking a sweat.
Trees near power lines need to be trimmed by either yourself or your utility company to about a 15-foot minimum distance. If the tree is on your property, then it’s your responsibility to trim it. If it is on or partially on public land, it’s up to the power company.
If you have a tree close to or touching a power line, you should seek out a local arborist or trimming trees service and have them trim the tree for you. Attempting to trim trees close to power lines can be deadly, so extreme caution is advisable.
Electric utility companies1 are the ones responsible for trimming trees that are touching power lines. The National Electrical Safety Code requires them to do so.
If the tree is, however, on your land, you will be required to pay for trimming trees yourself. Normally have trees near power lines, and the utility company will be responsible for cutting them when they do the rounds every 6 – 12 months. But if it is touching the service line to your house, you will need to manage the tree yourself.
Most of the time, landowners are responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of trees on their property, including trimming trees clear from near power lines.
Tree limbs touching street power lines
It is important to note that trees or branches being too close to transmission lines is pretty dangerous. The voltage can run through the tree to the ground and zap people or pets.
Taller trees can be blown by the wind and pulled down the line from the poles, which could hurt a passerby. This is why clearance is important.
So how much clearance do you need? High-voltage power lines are high above the ground, meaning electricity may reach the ground through the tree. In order to prevent this, ensure all the trees are at a safe distance of 10 – 15 feet.
This clearance allows for the sagging of new lines and the movement of trees in the wind.
Sagging is when the power lines carry heavy electrical loads in warm weather. This causes the lines to heat up and stretch, making them longer, sag longer, and lower.
Does the tree owner pay for cutting tree limbs touching power lines?
If the tree is on your property and touching the service line to your home, then you need to have it trimmed. The utility company will trim your tree if it is growing out over public land and near power lines.
Given that the utility company can access power lines on your premises without your consent, in some cities they may just come in and just cut it. In most cities, however, they have an inspector who will go around and notify residents their trees are near power lines and they must have them trimmed.
Call us or fill in the above form to get matched with great companies who will trim trees close to power lines. If you feel your local power company is responsible for trimming trees, please call them first to save yourself some money.
Are trees touching power lines dangerous?
Trees that come into contact with the power lines can be very dangerous. This is because they can carry the electricity through them and especially if it is a high-voltage power line, it can zap people. Some people do not know that power lines can electrify trees and be a danger to them and their pets.
The power lines do not even have to physically touch the tree to be dangerous, a voltage surge can cause an arc from the transmission line. This is very dangerous as the current can not only kill anyone but also cause a fire. The worst part is that you can never truly tell whether a tree has been electrified or not just by looking at it.
What to do if you notice a tree limb on/ near power lines
When a tree touches a power line, you should keep it off and warn others about it immediately before contacting the local utility. Since it is difficult to tell whether a tree is electrified or not, this may end up causing serious harm to other people.
Power outages can also occur due to arcing. It is required that enough clearance be given especially for transmission lines with high voltage power.
Can branches conduct electricity?
Branches can conduct electricity. It can be energized when a tree is in contact or comes close enough to a power line. This can be very dangerous as it may lead to electrocution for anyone touching it or can cause the tree to catch fire.
Since branches can conduct electricity, it is always recommended that you do not try cutting down branches touching the power line. You will be putting yourself at risk of an electric shock.
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Pruning trees near electrical utilities
Pruning trees is very important and has many benefits; however, pruning near trees’ electrical utilities can be very dangerous. This is why you should always consider hiring an electric utility contractor rather than doing it yourself.
Pruning trees near electric utilities ensures safety for the people living close by. It can also be referred to as clearance. If the tree in question is less than 10 feet away from a power line, do not attempt pruning it unless you are a certified professional.
Since the wind or snow can break branches growing near or above power lines, pruning should always be done to direct them to grow away from the wires. You can achieve this by directional pruning.
Directional pruning involves removal and reduction cuts. This is the most recommended way to prune your trees. You should avoid using methods such as ‘topping’ as they affect the tree’s health. Topping promotes wood decay and shortens a tree’s lifespan.
The most recommended method is directional pruning. However, this is only a temporary solution, as with enough access to sunlight, the branch will still grow to its original position.
Who to call about tree branches touching power lines?
If you notice a tree branch making contact with a power line or even being close enough, contact the local utility company. Do not attempt to fix the problem by yourself. A lot of people get injured or electrocuted in such cases.
You could also call for a certified professional if you want the entire tree cut down or pruned regularly. This is because of the danger it poses. Trees near power lines can be electrified and this can hurt your children or pets.
Even when the branch is close to a power line and not making contact, it is still dangerous. Electricity can arc to the nearby tree on given occasions. For example, in the case of lightning, a voltage surge may lead to arcing of the electricity.
Call us or fill in the above form to get matched with great companies who will trim trees close to power lines. If you feel your local utility company is responsible for trimming trees, please call them first to save yourself some money.
Who to call if an entire tree falls on power lines
This is a whole different kettle of fish. Power lines are pretty sturdy and can handle a branch or two falling onto them, but if a whole tree falls across power lines, you will need to call emergency services.
Call 911 – You need to first notify emergency services. Alert them that a tree has fallen through power lines and that they need to send an emergency crew to secure the location.
Call the power company – Removing the tree and fixing the lines is the responsibility of the utility company. So also call them and alert them their service is down.
Alert bystanders – Only if it’s safe, do your best to alert people walking past of the immediate danger remembering that the cables may still be live even though the power is out in the neighborhood.
Cost of professional branch trimming near power lines
The cost of trimming a tree2 depends on several reasons. These include the tree size, the number of branches to be trimmed or removed, or even the tree size. So generally, the cost depends on your situation.
If you are concerned about the size, small trees near a power line between 15 to 20 feet tall would cost you somewhere between $250 and $525. Medium trees might cost you between $290 to $720. This is when you require a moderate number of branches to be removed.
Large trees of 30 to 50 feet tall should cost around $500 to $1200. A much larger tree up to 100 feet tall might cost you up to $2000. As stated earlier, the cost of branch trimming varies on several things.
How to save on trimming trees around power lines
If you don’t feel like spending that much money, here are a few tips that will help you get the job done cheaper:
Do not go for marketers – If you see an ad on Yellow Pages or Google, don’t go for it. Companies that pay for higher advertising costs are expensive. This is because of the high cost of advertising incurred.
Ask around – Do not just pick the first quote you receive. Look for other companies who specialize in trimming trees and compare their prices; this is important especially if you are new to this. You never know if the next offer might be cheaper.
Trimming trees during winter – Since this is the off-season, you will get much cheaper offers than you would during the peak season. Make the supply and demand force work in your favor.
Good access – Depending on where your tree is located, you might be charged differently. If your tree is in the backyard consider removing a panel of your fence to make work so much easier. This gives the workers fewer hassles as opposed to dragging out the branches that have been cut down from the backyard.
Consider your options – Depending on your situation, you can ask for an option that works for you. Given that you are trimming the branches, you can ask them to trim and clear the remains or just trim and leave the remains. Cleaning up yourself later can save you a buck or two.
Finally, when looking for a good tree trimming service, insist on them fixing a price that suits your tree requirements. To them, every job is different hence let them state their price after considering the workload required.
If they charge by the hour as some companies do, you need to consider their manpower and how fast they can get the job done.
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, (2024) Transmission Line Vegetation Management. <https://www.ferc.gov> Accessed 9-02-2024.
- Lori Lovely and Evelyn Auer, (2023) How Much Does Tree Trimming Cost? <https://www.bobvila.com/articles/tree-trimming-cost/> Accessed 9-02-2024.
