Why we trim trees near power lines

Trees bring so much to our neighbourhoods, and we know how much they mean to you. We feel the same way, but to keep our workers and the public safe, we need to trim and sometimes remove trees when they get close to power lines.

Overgrown trees are the second most common cause of power outages in our province. Strong winds and big storms can bring down branches or trees onto power lines, but trees simply growing too close to power lines can be a risk too.

Downed power lines create serious safety hazards. They can cause fires and electrocution and often lead to unexpected power outages. Whether you’re driving or walking by, if you see a damaged or fallen line, call 911. Stay far away and avoid anything the line may be touching, including water.

When trees create unsafe conditions around power lines, we trim branches or remove trees, even though the responsibility is often that of the homeowner on private property and the municipality on public property. It’s a lot of work to keep more than 76,000 km of power lines clear across the province.

We do vegetation management work year-round to prevent outages before they happen. Our planned trimming takes care of branches and trees that are getting too close to power lines, both on public and private property. If you see us trimming trees in your neighbourhood, it’s to clear vegetation that could soon cause an outage. In rural locations, we use mechanical clearing equipment to mulch trees and vegetation on power line right of ways, making it safer for workers to perform maintenance and access the lines.

Do your part to help prevent outages and safety hazards. If any trees on your property are touching or growing too close to power lines, it’s your responsibility to contact a certified utility arborist to have them trimmed back. Learn more about your responsibility.

If you see branches touching a line, a tree leaning over a wire, or trees that could soon create a safety hazard, regardless of where the tree is growing, you can report them to us with a Tree safety assessment.

If the tree or branch is within ten feet of a power line, it’s extremely dangerous so you should not attempt to cut it yourself.

Depending on where the tree stands, it may be your local municipality’s responsibility. If the tree poses an immediate threat to your safety or to your electrical service, we may trim it ourselves.

Just like you, we’d prefer trimming as few trees as possible. If homeowners and municipalities help to do their part in keeping their trees away from lines, our communities are safer from hazards and outages.

Certain kinds of trees are better suited for your yard to avoid safety risks near power lines. Learn more about the right trees for your property (PDF, 2.8 MB) .

We proudly fund tree planting projects for non-profit organizations around the province, such as schools, community centres, and public spaces. Learn more about our Forest Enhancement Program.