- Who to call
- Your electric utility first
- Do not
- Climb, cut or touch the tree
- Typical price
- Varies, utility work may be free
Stay Back and Call the Utility
Wires can still carry power when they are down, bent or tangled in branches. A tree can carry electricity too, especially when wet. Most of Durham is served by Duke Energy, so check your bill if you are not sure. The utility can tell you what its own crews will do and what you must hire out.
Who Does What
Utilities often trim or remove trees that threaten the main lines along the street. Trees on your property that are near the line to your house are usually a matter of private crews working with the utility. The utility may need to disconnect or cover wires before the work. This can take scheduling.
Hiring a Tree Service
Ask whether the crew has trained line clearance workers, and whether they will coordinate with the utility. Most residential crews are not allowed to work within a set distance of live wires. If a company says it will cut right up to the lines without a call, move on.
Prevent the Problem
Do not plant tall trees under lines. Have a pro prune trees before they grow into the wires. For other hazards read emergency tree removal and leaning tree removal.