The drop line is the line that runs from the main line to your house. If a customer would like a tree removed and the tree is located between a utility pole and the customer’s home, we will need to disconnect the service. OPPD Forester Mike Norris said his team regularly trims treesthat are encroaching on power lines or other equipment, or have the potential to do so, about every five to seven years. If not, then they will close down power whilst the works take place. When people identify downed lines or trees touching power lines and act wisely, it minimizes the risk from trees contacting power lines. Your email address will not be published. Always call 8-1-1 before digging in your yard to avoid buried utility lines. Large trees and branches can cause extended power outages when they come in contact with overhead power lines. We also depend on help from the public. Make your plans first as you may not be able to commission an expert to do any work for many weeks. Situation 2. If the tree is on private land then the landowner is responsible. We can turn off your power temporarily, free of charge whilst your tree surgeon cuts back trees for you. Again, this is all a free service and no fees are to be paid for this. Have you completed a project recently? We interview and vet all our tradespeople to ensure they meet our high standards. In general, for lines with a voltage, less than 33kV the clearing distance should be 3.0m, but only if the branch can support a person’s weight. Legally, the owner of the property has the responsibility to trim a tree should it look like it’s about come into contact with power lines. Any low voltage lines going from the power line to … Arabic Your rights if you have electricity equipment on your land. We can turn your power off whilst your tree surgeon cuts away trees and bushes, which are near overhead power lines. Turkish Power lines can be deadly so we recommend you always contact a professional regarding any planned works near power lines. To understand the work involved we will carry out a site visit, occasionally we may need to trim trees back from our power lines first. This would normally take 6-8 weeks depending on how busy they are. An effective, responsible tree maintenance program is critical to our successful and safe delivery of electric service. We'll always aim to book you in for the next available appointment that is convenient for you. 1.1K views We can turn your power off whilst your tree surgeon cuts away trees and bushes, which are near overhead power lines. If you do require additional shaping and cleaning of trees or debris removal after the VCM performs necessary pruning, that’s when we can help. Andy highlights the importance of contacting your local electric company early as it takes considerable time to get assistance: The second option before any planned works is to call your local electric company for help. Touching a live wire can cause a life threatening shock, and if a line is accidentally cut during the process of trimming, it can endanger your life. The company does not trim trees that are threatening to interfere with your service drop (the line that runs from our pole to your house). It’s important to maintain a safe clearing distance between the tree and the power line at all times. Yes, if your tree begins to interfere with the power lines above it, then the power company which operates the system has a legal right to have the tree trimmed. Whose job is it to trim trees near power lines? However, it’s important to approach the power company before they’re forced to take action into their own hands. Powerco crew monitor trees growing close to power lines, and will serve a cut and trim notice to tree owners if they identify a tree within the power line notice zone. A safe and secure supply of electricity is maintained at all times. Oncor spokeswoman Kerri Dunn told 6 News Thursday there are very specific rules for trimming trees. Find out ways we can help. Cowlitz PUD is responsible for trimming or removing trees that encroach on high-voltage primary electric distribution wires. To understand the work involved we will carry out a site visit, occasionally we may need to trim trees back from our power lines first. The utility companies do not trim vegetation that follows the path of your drop line. We can arrange for overhead power lines to be switched off temporarily whilst tree trimming is being carried out. Alabama Power schedules periodic vegetation maintenance along power lines to minimize outages caused by trees in or near transmission and distribution rights of way. What should I do if the trees grow close to the power lines again? Speak to the energy company about the issue, who will guide you on what to do next. Please call us to discuss you options. Trees can carry electricity from nearby lines down through their trunks and this voltage can zap people, pets or other objects that get near enough to the “electrified” tree. It’s important to note that property owners may also have some responsibility for trimming trees. Free to call from a mobile or landline phone. Many operators will cover the costs of tree surgery, should it affect their power lines. Urdu. Cut trees and bushes near power lines Legally, the owner of the property has the responsibility to trim a tree should it look like it’s about come into contact with power lines., but I have heard of many cases where they will do the work themselves without charging. Western Power Distribution is the electricity distribution network operator for the Midlands, South Wales and the South West. Cover my power lines so I can work near them, I need advice about working near overhead power lines, Request plans showing where electricity cable are. It all depends on the type of tree and the height to which it will eventually grow. However, if the company has to act without your consent and if the tree causes damage to the power line, you might end up footing the bill. If it turns out vegetation is actually naturally occurring, your local council/shire will notify you to contact Western Power on … Check out top tips and expert advice for boosting your reputation online. You can contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 day a year. Edit your profile, view callback requests and ask for feedback from customers. A knowledgeable tree expert will check the lines to see if they are insulated, again this is something for an experienced specialist who will know the dangers and understand from experience what to look for! If a tree does start getting too close to the power line, then it’s important to have it trimmed. The service drop is the responsibility of the property owner. Trees occasionally have tree preservation orders where the local council or Natural England will provide guidelines on how to carry out the work. Posted on December 12, 2019 by Jeffrey Feldman. Please call your local utility company to find out if you are responsible. In each case negotiation with the power company is required. Trees that are unstable, diseased, dead or leaning toward the electric facilities don’t need to touch power lines to be dangerous. Check the latest industry expertise and read insider tips from our vetted tradespeople. If this is the case, it’s always best to contact the energy company which operates the power line as they might be willing to cover the costs associated with bringing in … Get Inspired! Grow your business! Polish While ComEd has an extensive maintenance program in place which helps keep lines clear for distribution and transmission rights of way, we understand there may still be a need for further assistance. If a tree owner fails to arrange for Powerco or an approved contractor to do the work, then they … Approaching power lines is not only deadly, it's against the law. The trees whose tree trunks are within your property line are considered to be part of your property, and therefore, your responsibility. Trees and transmission lines often make lousy neighbors, especially when tall, fast-growing trees are planted under power lines or right next to them. Author has 683 answers and 710.1K answer views That’s going to vary by where you live. Branches of the neighbor’s tree hang in my yard. Working near live overhead electric lines and underground electric cables is responsible … If the tree is in contact with the power line or you think your situation is dangerous, please stay away from the equipment and call us 24 hours a day on 0800 31 63 105 or 105 (free to call from a landline or mobile). Our engineers will carry out a site visit to help determine the best way to complete the work. Your email address will not be published. Tree trimming often requires working at a great height, and this may mean working near power lines. If your neighbours power needs to be turned off, we will need to give them enough warning of this. Electric utilities are responsible for trimming trees near power lines. The homeowner will be responsible for the actual tree removal. Those right of ways are pretty easy to see. Romanian For electric shock prevention and electric shock dangers that can result from downed power lines due to trees falling on them, it is critical that utilities take seriously their … Occasionally this work will be carried out by some of our contractors. We'll call you and arrange a site visit to plan the work, We will turn off the power so trees can be cut back. It’s important to remember that if the tree was to bring your neighbourhood’s powerline down, then everyone could be without power for a prolonged period of time. Let your tradesperson know how they did. If a tree falls on power lines, then the electric utility company that owns the lines is generally responsible for repairing them and restoring power. If you plan to prune trees near power lines or your service wire, follow our pruning … We often get requests from customers to shut down the power supply temporarily to allow their tree surgeons to work safely to cut back trees. Any interference along this line is the property-owners responsibility. Typically, cities already hold a contract with one provider who will do all the work. This safe clearing distance varies depending on the voltage of the power line and whether the tree is climbable. Legally, the owner of the property has the responsibility to trim a tree should it look like it’s about come into contact with power lines. Required fields are marked *. Who is my energy supplier and what's my MPAN? If they don’t, you’ll be required to have the tree trimmed, which can be dangerous, so we’d always recommend hiring a qualified arboriculturist. Untrained individuals should not attempt to trim trees near power lines for risk of serious or fatal injury. 2. Can I trim them without permission? They are required to do so by the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) which has been adopted in most states. We want to ensure that our website is as accessible and usable as possible and we are committed to constantly improving our website to meet the needs of all users. In this situation, overgrown trees can quickly become a public safety risk and interrupt the supply of electricity, especially in severe weather. Did you know more than 140 unplanned outages each year are caused by poor vegetation management? Homeowners are responsible for trimming tree branches near the low voltage service drop to their individual home. What's the difference between you and my electricity supplier? Please treat electricity cables as live, stay away and call us immediately on 0800 31 63 105 or 105. If so, register or log in to request this work now. Where we are, the electric company trims trees growing over the lines that supply the street of homes or businesses, but the land-owner is responsible for trimming trees that grow over the lines from the street to their building. When these types of trees are placed directly under or near power lines, removal is the best solution. We carry out an extensive tree management programme. All overhead lines and other electrical apparatus can be extremely dangerous. When in doubt, give us a call: For your safety, never attempt to trim any plants or trees that are touching or growing near power lines. “The more you allow trees and bushes, and other things, to grow up underneath and present a problem, the more likely you are to have a lot of outages,” said Ike Pigott with Alabama Power. Checkatrade Tree Expert Andy Baverstock from Acorn Tree Specialists Ltd recommends: Firstly, any professional tree specialist company, like those found on Checkatrade, will automatically know what to do when you ask them for advice regarding tree growth near power lines. “That’s key to keeping reliable power flowing to our customers,” he said. Alabama Power contracts out the work to clear right of ways, or the space near the power lines. Most companies offer this service for free, especially as it’s likely to cost them less than what it costs to replace the power line. Likewise, if you notice a neighbour has a tree on their property that is nearing a powerline, then it’s important to speak to them and remind them of their responsibilities. We often get requests from customers to shut down the power supply temporarily to allow their tree surgeons to work safely to cut back trees. Written by Jeffrey Feldman . So when you notice a tree in your yard that seems a bit too close to the lines for comfort, you might wonder, “who is responsible for trimming trees near power lines”? There’s a good chance your local council/shire will be responsible for it, particularly with trees and vegetation close to residential properties. Select your language ... Electrical service can be interrupted for thousands of customers due to a fallen limb that damages a power line. A Council or Highways Agency may serve notice on the tree owner to require adequate clearance of hedges or trees encroaching onto pavements or roads. French Service fees may apply. They are called Aerial Bundled Cable (ABC), and are used in places where there is minimal pruning done to the trees. Northern Powergrid’s tree cutting responsibility Northern Powergrid is responsible for most costs associated with trimming trees and vegetation to achieve the required clearances between trees and the power lines. 3. Lines are open Monday - Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm. If the tree is in contact with the power line or you think your situation is dangerous, please stay away from the equipment and call us 24 hours a day on 0800 31 63 105 or 105 (free to call from a landline or mobile). However, if the trunk is on the property line, it’s known as a boundary tree, and all property owners involved share responsibility for what happens to it. In Britain, the typical height of a power line ranges from 15 to 55m. Trimming Trees Near Power Lines If a tree limb (or the entire tree) falls onto a power line, you could face a power outage or a safety hazard. In the ACT, landholders are responsible for ensuring all trees and vegetation on their property are kept clear from poles, powerlines and all other network infrastructure. National Grid is responsible for routine trimming around our high voltage wires to maintain reliable services to our customers. Do you request this type of work regularly? Home Planning Guides Whose job is it to trim trees near power lines? Punjabi NV Energy will trim or remove trees outside the power corridor when these trees could interfere with or fall into the line and create a hazard. How do I report a tree/trees that need cutting near power lines? We will not be allowed to prune your tree out of the power lines unless Oncor contracts us directly to do so. If this is the case, it’s always best to contact the energy company which operates the power line as they might be willing to cover the costs associated with bringing in a tree surgeon. Not sure if this would help the OP. If you’re concerned about a tree falling on a power line, or if your tree has fallen on a power line than its important to contact the company which operates the power line. Bangla If any limbs extend over the property line, they fall into that neighbor’s jurisdiction. The choice of how to trim trees and manage vegetation growth near power lines is made by AEP Ohio, subject to state and local requirements and laws, applicable safety codes, and any limitations or obligations specified in rights-of-way agreements. The code, published by IEEE and updated every five years, seeks to keep both utility workers and the public safe. If the owner fails to have the work carried out, this may be done by the authority who can then bill the owner. We recommend hiring a qualified operator for tree trimming work around privately owned powerlines. Who is responsible for tree trimming? The National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) requires electric utilities, in most states, to maintain trees around power lines. Look up before planting or pruning trees and work at a safe distance by staying at least 10 feet away from power lines at all times. Boundary Disputes In certain cases, there may be a tree that is right on the edge of the property. A full-grown tree can be a thing of beauty, but not if it’s sitting directly underneath an overhead power line. I've seen special power lines that can safely go through trees, they are usually a bundled twisted cable with thick insulation around the wires. Spanish Electrical lines present a real hazard to anyone attempting to trim a tree. Who is Responsible for Trimming Trees Near Power Lines? All lines beyond the first property pole belong to the property owner and tree clearance on those lines is the owner’s responsibility. Stay away from downed power lines and call 911 if you see a downed line. Similarly, the clearing distance should be 0.8m on any tree that’s unable to support a person’s weight. They will send someone out to look and make sure any work can take place next to them. However, if you have spotted a tree growing near to overhead lines that requires trimming or if a tree is affecting your power supply please read more here. These maintenance efforts take place within rotations, with crews tackling one circuit area at a time. In this article, we assess what to do if one of your trees is growing near a power line and who’s responsible for dealing with it. It is the property owner's responsibility to keep trees clear of the electric service line that runs from the pole to the owner's house. For more information on working near overhead power lines please read the GS6 guide on the HSE website. The pruning of trees near electrical wires can result in injury or death. Please ensure your tree surgeon knows how long they need the power to be shut down for as this will help with the planning, typically the longest we allow for a shut down is 8 hours. If you need to work near them, get competent advice from the owner of the lines, usually the Network Operator (NO). There are a number of factors which will affect the times scales for turning off the power, the common reasons include: Complete our quick online form and we will aim to contact you back within three working days. Not only do trees and vegetation growing too close to poles and powerlines cause power outages, but they also create safety hazards such as grass fires and bushf… Join us and benefit from the millions of potential customers who use Checkatrade to find reliable tradespeople. 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