Tree & Power Line Safety Electrical Safety-SMART! Home

Safe Tree Trimming

By law, electric utilities must keep trees trimmed so they remain a safe distance away from high-voltage power lines. Utilities hire specially trained tree trimmers to do this work.

These workers know how to trim trees to keep them healthy and to make sure branches won't touch nearby lines. They use special tools like climbing ropes and bucket trucks made of materials that do not conduct electricity. If trees are too close to lines to trim safely, tree trimmers work with the local electric utility to turn off power to the line temporarily.

Only qualified line-clearance tree trimmers are allowed to trim trees near high-voltage power lines! If someone you know plans to trim a tree next to a power line, tell them to call the local electric utility first.