Don’t Take Electricity for Granted
Overhead utility lines are the easiest to see and probably the ones we take most for granted. Although these lines look harmless enough, they can be extremely dangerous.
Planting & Pruning:
- Planting tall growing trees under and near these lines will ultimately require your utility to prune them to maintain safe clearance from the wires.
- This pruning may result in the tree having an unnatural appearance. Periodic pruning can also lead to a shortened life span for the tree.
- Trees which must be pruned away from power lines are under greater stress and more susceptible to insects and disease.
- Small, immature trees planted today can become problem trees in the future.
Service Interruptions:
- Tall growing trees near overhead lines can cause outages when trees contact wires.
- Improperly pruned trees with weak branches can lead to service outages during wind and storms.
Safety:
- Children or adults climbing in these trees can be severely injured or even killed if they come in contact with the wires.
- Proper selection and placement of trees in and around overhead utilities can eliminate public safety hazards, as well as reduce expenses for utilities and their members, and improve the appearance of landscapes.
