Tree Pruning for Safety & Reliability
As part of our continuing effort to provide safe and reliable electric service, South Central Power has contracted with Asplundh and other tree contractors to prune trees that interfere with the power lines. Tree limbs coming into contact with power lines can cause safety hazards and service outages.
Our contractors’ qualified utility arborists will only prune branches that could affect the power lines — especially during high winds or under load from snow and ice — and dead or weakened branches at risk of falling onto the lines. Branches growing away from the power lines will not be pruned.
Our contractors follow pruning standards set by the:
- American National Standards Institute (A300 Standards)
- International Society of Arboriculture
- Tree Care Industry Association
These standards help provide reliable electricity safely, while at the same time promoting the health and well-being of your trees.
Directional pruning does not solve all electric line clearance problems, though. The preferred approach is to remove trees that threaten the electric lines and equipment.
Pruning Methods
Directional pruning (or natural pruning) removes only the branches that are growing toward the power lines. This practice protects tree health while directing future growth away from the power lines. We do not perform indiscriminate cutting of tree branches, or “topping.”
Pruning Cuts
Proper pruning cuts minimize injury to the tree. Cuts should not damage the branch collar or leave a stub.
Cutting just outside the branch collar allows the tree to “seal” the cut surface.
Plant the Right Tree, In the Right Place
Before selecting and planting a tree, remember to look up to determine where the tree will be located in relation to over-head utility lines.
Planting lower-growing trees near power lines reduces the need for utility pruning. Visit our Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place page for examples of suitable trees.
Safety First
Remember: Power lines carry high electrical voltages! Our contractors employ trained professionals to clear vegetation from power lines. Never attempt to clear the lines yourself! Do not allow children to climb trees near power lines.
Trees Are Good
Trees add beauty and enhance the quality of life in our community. Trees are nature’s sentries: screening out the scorching summer sun and buffering the brutal winter winds. However, falling trees and tree branches are a major cause of power outages. In order to keep the flow of electricity safe and reliable, it is sometimes necessary to prune or remove trees.