As long as you hire a reputable company, there really isnt too much you need to do on your end. So how much clearance do you need? Verizon phone line and was told it's my problem. 0000009403 00000 n This is because they can carry the electricity through them and especially if it is a high voltage power line, it can zap people. As the trees on your property grow, the limbs and branches will also grow, and eventually, they can run into the lines that not only supply power to your house, but that supply power to your entire neighborhood. Brush to be cleared may be marked with a blue slash ( / ). Shared trees are referred to as boundary and border line trees. Though typically, in Southern Florida, the utility companies will cut back trees when they grow within a certain distance to overhead power lines, this isnt always the case. In order to serve you better, please select your Dominion Energy location services. In fact, in the modern era, for most people, not having power can be quite detrimental. Underground utility lines are frequently damaged because digging began without knowledge of underground utility lines. 11/16/11: This is not accurate - The electric company trims 0000003853 00000 n 2 days later, a city rep came to my home, investigated, and told me that if they found other trees along the easement touching the power lines, they would perform the work. 14h42, on 0000023037 00000 n 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. Email jhtreeserviceinc@gmail.com. 0000029742 00000 n When trees are a safety hazard and cannot be pruned effectively without significant impact to their health or shape, they need to be removed. Directional pruning allows trees to coexist safely with power lines. Theres no denying that a mature tree, completely with lush foliage, can be a thing of beauty, but when theres power lines nearby, the site can spark a sense of horror. 0000012287 00000 n (M-F, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. & Sat, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.). Theyre suspended from poles, which are strategically positioned, and usually, those above the ground power lines are located on either side of a street along the front or the back of homes. This clearance allows for the sagging of new lines and the movement of trees in the wind. Cleaning up debris left by storms or emergency restoration work is the responsibility of property owners. If more than one utility line (telephone or cable) is mounted on the same pole, the high-voltage electric lines are at the top of the pole. This is when you require a moderate number of branches to be removed. However, in some cases the ownership of trees is shared. The power company will monitor flora growth and once it reaches a certain point, they will make the arrangements to trim them back so that they are set back a safe distance from the overhead power lines. Your trees, power lines, and anyone within the vicinity will be protected from a potentially catastrophic event. Yes, theres no doubt that youre thankful for all of the modern conveniences that power provides. Power lines are not insulated; if you touch one you will be severely injured or even killed. The city is not responsible but they will know who is. PG&E Spokesperson Deanna Contreras noted the communication lines are typically the thickest and lowest lines on a utility pole. This may cause you to enter password incorrectly. Just like the distance the tree limbs and branches need to be from overhead power lines depends on where you live and your utility company, so, too, does the matter of who is responsible for trimming the trees. They'll fix the Do note, however, that while you might not be responsible for trimming the trees back, you might have to clean up anything that falls to the ground. Courtesy: PG&E. Constructive If you dont 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 on Google, dont go for it. What do the paint marks mean on my trees or bushes? 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. What Do Tree Services Do With Their Wood Chips. Who's Responsible for Trimming Trees Near the Powerline on Your We cut trees and brush adjacent to our rights of way (the areas around power lines) to maintain safe, reliable and economic electric service, and to provide quicker access for our crews during service restoration and maintenance work. on But if you see a problem at any time, call PG&E. This causes the lines to heat up and stretch, making them longer, sag longer, and lower. ANSI A300 trimming may appear drastic at first but results in healthier trees long-term since . They wouldn't cut back just the two trees directly behind my neighbor's home. Call us or fill in the above form to get matched with great companies who will trim trees close to power lines. The worst part is, you can never truly tell whether a tree has been electrified or not just by looking at it. For other questions, help is available under Contact Us. Are you sure you want to leave your current location . Update to my original post: I called AT&T and, after 15 minutes on hold, reached a call center rep with an unidentifiable foreign accent. The code, published by IEEE and updated every five years, seeks to keep both utility workers and the public safe. FPLs strategy to maintain power lines free of tree growth is based on a consistent, planned trimming cycle. Before we dive into discussing who is responsible for trimming trees that are near overhead power lines, its first important to know how far trees should be from a power line. Several arborists we spoke with recommend choosing a company that is licensed and insured. Wiki User 2011-11-16 23:19:16 Study now See answer (1) Copy The electric company/phone company. Smaller brush may also be cleared and intermittently marked with a blue slash (/). 0000010137 00000 n However, this is only a temporary solution, as with enough access to sunlight, the branch will still grow to its original position. By law, unless you coordinate with CenterPoint Energy to do the work safely, only professionals who are authorized by the local electric utility are allowed to trim or remove trees next to energized power lines. Keep tabs on the position of the limbs and branches of the trees that grow near the overhead power lines that run in front of or along the back of your property. 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. Consumers Energy does not trim trees for streetlight illumination or for streetlight sensors. By Cleaning up yourself later can save you a buck or two. Duke Energy Corporation. Electric utility companies are the ones responsible for trimming trees that are touching power lines. Our expert Tree Management Team follows established forestry guidelines to ensure that trees dont interrupt your service, using qualified line-clearance contractors to safely clear trees and vegetation that could interfere with our powerlines. Let us help you manage yours! Attempting to trim trees close to power lines can be deadly, so extreme caution is advisable. A utility pole in San Jose next to trees. Instead, get a qualified tree professional to help. So generally, the cost depends on your situation. If your tree is in the backyard consider removing a panel of your fence to make work so much easier. AT&T is my landline and internet provider (I don't have cable TV). We are intermittently experiencing technical difficulties with processing payments. Once the trees are a certain distance away, they will make arrangements to cut the limbs and branches back. If you would like to request a Service Line drop for a future business day, please contact us at 1-800-ALLIANT (800-255-4268). Topping promotes wood decay and shortens a trees lifespan. NBC Bay Area Photo/ Alyssa Goard. Large trees of 30 to 50 feet tall should cost around $500 to $1200. We're sorry for any inconvenience and ask that you try again later today. 14h05. Do you trim trees for all the wires attached to your poles? If it is not an emergency, you can self-report through this website using the form on this page. The cable co. is most likely Comcast, but I highly doubt they will do anything about it. When the area is safe, it is the property owners responsibility for debris clean-up after emergency service restoration, tree failure, or customer-generated calls for electric line workers.