Trees are prized possessions in our communities.  They give needed shade in summer, help clear the air of pollutants, provide a home for wildlife, and please the eye with the beauty of their foliage and blossoms.  But when a tree’s branches start to come close to or actually touch utility power lines, a potentially hazardous situation is created.  Trees and power lines can co-exist, and potential conflicts can be avoided by selecting and planting trees with size and growth characteristics appropriate to their location:

Tall Zone
Higher trees could be used in any locations 50 feet or more from power lines.  Trees near your house can provide significant energy benefits by providing cooling shade in summer and giving protection from winter winds.

Medium Zone
Trees that grow no more than 40 feet in height are recommended for areas immediately adjacent to the Low Zone to avoid high branches that overhang power lines or trees that could topple over into the lines during severe storms.

Low Zone
Beneath power lines and for 20 feet to either side of them, plant species that will not exceed 25 feet in height.  Taller existing trees in this zone should be pruned to grow around the wires by the utility company.