Vegetation Management

Keeping trees and other vegetation clear of power lines and equipment is important to maintain reliable electric service to our members!

Vegetation is a leading cause of power outages, disrupting reliable electric service for our members when trees and other vegetation grow into or fall onto power lines and electrical equipment. At Farmers Electric Cooperative, our vegetation management team seeks to use an integrated vegetation management approach and industry best practices to keep power reliable while promoting compatible vegetation, such as pollinator habitat and low growing shrubs.

Generally, Farmers Electric Cooperative requires 15 feet of clearance around lines and electrical equipment to keep reliable power coming to you and your neighbors, and that means established trees near power lines may need trimmed away from electrical facilities. Farmers Electric follows guidelines that minimize tree stress while maintaining the delivery of reliable electric service to the communities that Farmers serves.

Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place

The best way to avoid a potential vegetation issue with power lines or electrical equipment is to plant the right tree, in the right place.

Here are some tips on choosing the right tree to plant to minimize the risk of interfering with electrical equipment:

Consider low growing trees and shrubs which are less likely to cause an issue.
Call 811 before you dig. Members can reference our Safety Tips – Farmers Electric Cooperative before digging to avoid potential contact with underground electrical facilities.
Avoid planting vegetation that will limit access to power lines and electrical equipment. This will help utility crews to better maintain power lines as part of routine maintenance and restore power during storm events.
See more tips on planting the right tree in the right place on the Arbor Day Planting Your Tree website.

Electrical and Tree Safety

- - Remember that electric utility lines carry voltages that are many times greater than the standard household voltage. Both primary and secondary lines have the potential to severely injure or even cause death if someone comes in contact with them, either directly or indirectly.
  - Members of the public should never attempt to clear trees from around power lines.

Vegetation Management Requests

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Tree Trimming Frequently Asked Questions

How much will they cut from my tree?

Typically, the amount and type of pruning that is necessary is based on:

Tree growth rate and structure
Wind sway
Line sag
Tree species
Health or vigor of the tree
Environmental factors
Irrigation
Proximity of the tree to the power lines and the line configuration
Voltage (the higher the voltage, the greater the clearance required)

Which pruning guidelines does Farmers Electric Cooperative follow?

At Farmers Electric Cooperative, our vegetation management team seeks to use an integrated vegetation management approach and industry best practices to keep power reliable while promoting compatible vegetation, such as pollinator habitat and low growing shrubs. Farmers Electric follows guidelines that minimize tree stress while maintaining the delivery of reliable electric service to the communities that Farmers serves.

What is directional pruning?

Directional pruning removes branches growing toward the conductors while leaving those growing away. Directional pruning is the most appropriate way to prune trees for electric utility line clearance.

How will a tree look after it is directionally pruned?

Trees growing directly under conductors may appear U- or V-shaped. Trees growing alongside a conductor or power lines may appear L-shaped, or 1 side may be removed from side pruning. The tree may appear misshapen, especially if you are looking down the street. In general, trees growing close to electric utility lines or facilities will never have the potential to grow with a completely “natural” looking shape.

Why not put the utility lines underground?

Installing utility lines underground comes with a very high price tag, coupled with more difficult (and longer) repairs in the event of a power failure. Also, converting an overhead system to underground may do more damage to the root systems of existing trees.

While we attempt to preserve the aesthetic value of trees and vegetation in and around our facilities, during outage situations our primary concerns are reducing fire and electrocution hazards, and providing personal and public safety from falling branches and trees. Following these events, some trees may require additional pruning to meet industry standards.