A branch that has dropped onto a power line can represent a significant danger and inconvenience near your home. Nonetheless, managing this issue shouldn’t be considered a hassle.
There is no safe way1 to remove a branch from a power line. You should never touch anything that is in contact with a power line by yourself no matter what.
If you want a branch removed from a power line, contact the power company so they can send highly-trained professionals with the right equipment to remove tree branches while protecting themselves from electrical shock at the same time.
Stay inside your house
If a tree falls on a power line near you and there is a power outage, stay inside your house at all costs. Look for downed trees or branches by looking at your yard through the windows from inside your home.
If you are familiar with where the power lines run in your property, it will be easy for you to know whether or not a tree or branch has damaged and taken out a power line.
Call 911
Fallen trees on power lines are extremely dangerous as they can cause sparks that will lead to a fire. Branches entangled in live wires can also transmit an electric charge to the ground surrounding them.
You may also call 911 and the electric utility company to inform them of possible downed lines.
Many people suffer fatal injuries or get killed yearly by electrocution every time they attempt to trim, prune, or remove trees near power lines. Even the equipment you’re using like pruners and ladders could get you electrocuted.
Call an electrician
As soon as the power company has repaired the downed lines and restored power, you may need to call a licensed electrician to reattach your electric service from the utility attachment to your circuit box.
Once it has been claimed safe by the power company for you to go outside of your home, you may go outside carefully and avoid injuring yourself from all the debris. Call a tree care service to help remove and clean the place from branches.
Can I trim a tree touching the power line to my house?
It is never safe to touch anything, let alone trim a tree near or touching a power line. Even if the tree is yours or the power line is near your house, you should always let a professional do the job to prevent yourself from getting electrocuted.
Simply being in contact with a tree branch touching a power line or a wire can cause lethal injury as the voltage is a hundred times greater than the current running inside your home.
This means that the little shock you get from plugging your microwave or blender is nothing compared to the electrical shock should you ever attempt trimming a tree touching a power line.
If a tree is touching the power line near your home, you must maintain at least a 10-foot distance away from it. This is to ensure your safety and avoid accidentally contacting live wires.
Who should I report a fallen tree on a power line to?
A fallen tree on a power line is a dangerous scenario where there are high risks2 of having human or animal lives affected and the surrounding structures damaged.
When a tree falls on a power line, there will be a power interruption. Interference with power lines is extremely dangerous and is a job that should be left to the professionals.
If you see a fallen tree on a power line, the right people to call are always from the electric utility company. Not only can they restore power, but they can also help minimize casualties to keep everyone else safe.
Call your electric utility company
Call your power company right away when you have their contact number available. Inform them of the situation and tell them the important details like the exact location of the street.
The electric company that owns the power line damaged by the tree will be responsible for its repair and restoration. The tree that fell on the power line is also their responsibility.
Call 911
Calling 911 is always one of the best things to do during an emergency. In case you don’t have your power company’s number written down or on your phone, it is best to call 911.
Even though the police cannot restore power, they can help minimize the disaster and put everyone in safety. After all, a fallen tree on a power line is just as serious as any other emergency.
As soon as you have contacted 911 and informed them about the situation, they will redirect you to the proper line with the electric utility company. They will shut the power off of the entire area to ensure the safety of everyone nearby.
Who is responsible for trimming trees near power Lines?
As required by the National Electrical Safety Code, it is the electric utility company that is responsible for trimming trees near power lines. This also includes trees that are touching the power lines themselves.
When vegetation like trees and shrubs are almost touching power lines, it is potentially very dangerous. This can cause a power outage and safety hazards, which is why they should be trimmed or pruned regularly.
The removal of dead, dying, or diseased trees that are near power lines is also the power company’s job. Usually, they already have annual schedules for trimming vegetation from different places every 6 to 12 months.
If ever the tree that is near the power line is on your property, then the maintenance of that tree will be your duty. You are going to have to pay for the trimming or removal costs of the tree.
How do I prevent trees from falling near a power line?
Storms and high winds mainly cause fallen trees near or on a power line. If you live in a place where storms are recurrent, you need to know where your power lines are.
If power lines should fall during a storm, the live lines that run over your yard and connect to your home could kill you or anyone who makes contact with the lines.
To prevent your trees from falling near a power line, you must have your property inspected twice a year to determine the growth of the tree limbs to the power lines. Have your tree/s regularly trimmed by a professional arborist.
- We Energies, (2019) Trees and power line safety <https://www.we-energies.com/safety/tree-trimming> Accessed: 28-02-2024
- NIOSH, (2014) Preventing Falls and Electrocutions During Tree Trimming. <https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/92-106/> Accessed: 28-02-2024
