Tree trimming

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Power line sparking next to tree branches.

Enlarge image: Power line sparking next to tree branches.

Call 911 if a tree is touching or leaning over overhead lines or hydro pole, AND is:

  • smoking, sparking, or burning
  • making a loud zapping or popping noises

Stay at least 10 metres away. Do not trim the tree or move any power lines.

Tree trimming contacts

Your options depend on whether the tree is on private or public property. If the tree is on public property and it is leaning on overhead lines in your yard, the tree is on public property and is the responsibility of the city, town, or municipality.

If you have concerns, contact us.

If the trees or vegetation are causing a power outage, you can report the outage online.

Public property

A city, town, or municipality is responsible for trees or vegetation on its public property. Contact your local civic authority about any potential hazards.

Private property

The safest way to trim or remove trees and vegetation on your property is to contact a qualified utility arborist. They are trained to work around overhead lines and hydro poles.

You, or the arborist, can request a temporary electricity disconnect to safely trim your trees and vegetation. We may require a tree safety assessment or tree investigation before we will process your temporary disconnect request.

Our responsibility

We have an obligation to provide safe, reliable power to our customers and keep your neighbourhood and our workers safe. Trees can cause outages and safety hazards, which is why we run a robust annual vegetation management program across the province.

We only trim trees and vegetation if they are causing or may soon cause a safety hazard or an outage. In an emergency, we may do this work without notice. 

Power line voltage and tree growth rates determine how far trees are trimmed back for clearance. We may do this work ourselves or contract it out to a utility arborist. To safely trim trees or vegetation around overhead lines, we may temporarily shut off the electricity.

Should a privately-owned tree cause a power outage and our crews respond and cut back the tree, it is the property owner’s responsibility to clean up any tree trunks, limbs and branches left behind after this emergency work.

Some trees, such as elms, cannot be trimmed or removed during certain times of the year due to provincial regulations. We have a special exemption to address electrical hazards during this time.

Your responsibility

Private and public property owners are responsible for keeping trees, shrubs, and vegetation on their property clear of overhead lines and hydro poles. Property owners should contact a qualified utility arborist to do the work. DO NOT attempt to cut/prune your own tree if it is within an unsafe distance to the power line. Stay at least 3 metres (10 feet) away from overhead lines, and if your power lines are sparking or burning, stay 10 metres (30 feet) away and call 911.

If your trees are causing (or could cause) a hazard to safety or reliability, we may trim them proactively. In cases where we proactively trim trees on private property, we will clean up the branches afterward. If we need to trim trees in an emergency, branch cleanup will be the responsibility of the property owner.

Overhead line goes from hydro pole through the branches of a large tree next to a house.

A tree on private property has grown into overhead lines running from a hydro pole to a house. Trimming the tree is the responsibility of the property owner.

Enlarge image: Overhead line goes from hydro pole through the branches of a large tree next to a house.

A tree on private property has grown into overhead lines running from a hydro pole to a house. Trimming the tree is the responsibility of the property owner. They should contact a qualified utility arborist to do the work.

A large tree next to the road leans close to overhead lines.

A tree on public property leans close to overhead lines. Trimming or removing the tree is the responsibility of the city, town, or municipality.

Enlarge image: A large tree next to the road leans close to overhead lines.

A tree on public property leans close to overhead lines. Trimming or removing the tree is the responsibility of the city, town, or municipality and should be done by a qualified utility arborist.

Clean up

If we trim trees or vegetation in an emergency situation, it is the property owner’s responsibility to clean up the site.

Tree safety assessment request

Send us photos and information about potential hazards on private or public property. We will assess the situation and advise you what to do next.

If the situation is your responsibility, you or your qualified arborist can request a temporary electricity disconnect to safely trim around the trees or vegetation. We may require a tree safety assessment or tree investigation before we will process your temporary disconnect request.

For this request, we require 2 photos that clearly show:

  • a clear view of the overhead line or hydro pole in the tree or vegetation;
  • the entire tree, including the ground, hydro poles and overhead wires, and any nearby buildings.

Request a tree safety assessment

Guide booklets