Sometimes we have to trim trees around power lines to help ensure that your power and your neighbors’ power will not be interrupted.
Our Right of Way department is more affectionately known to our members as the:
- Tree Trimming Department
Each JWEMC member agrees:
- In the membership application to grant us a Right of Way easement
- Giving us permission to cut and keep clear all trees within an unsafe distance from the power lines
To ensure the health of your trees, Joe Wheeler EMC uses pruning techniques that are recommended by the:
- International Society of Arboriculture
- American National Standards Institute
- National Arbor Day Foundation
View our Right of Way policies, clearing schedule and pruning techniques below.
Routine Right of Way Clearing
Routine Right of Way clearing activities will be performed to:
- Accomplish a 4-year clearing cycle to maximize productivity
- Maximize benefits from Right of Way funding
- Minimize power interruptions
During routine Right of Way maintenance:
- All trees within the Right of Way will be removed wherever possible
- The right of Way width for:
-
- Single-phase lines is 30 feet
- 3-phase lines is 40 feet
-
Between trees and energized conductors:
- 15 feet of clearance will be maintained
- A minimum clearance of 10 feet must be obtained (In special situations)
Property owners will be notified in advance whenever possible of any Right of Way clearing activities that need to be performed on their property.
Service Lines
Trees around secondary or service lines will be trimmed:
- To provide only 3 feet of clearance
- Only during routine maintenance activities
No trimming will be done on service lines between trimming cycles unless:
- limbs are exerting excessive pressure on the lines
JWEMC will not cut trees, healthy or dead, around service lines.
Property Owners
Property owners will be responsible:
- For hiring qualified tree removal personnel
- To safely remove trees adjacent to JWEMC power line Right of Ways
JWEMC will have the line disconnected so that:
- The property owner may have the tree cut
Trees outside of JWEMC's Right of Way will not be cut unless the:
- Trees are determined by JWEMC to be endangering primary power lines
- Removal of these trees will significantly benefit the:
- Reliability of electrical power
- Reduce future Right of Way clearance costs
Tree Trimming Requests
Trimming requests submitted by JWEMC personnel and by customers:
- Will be investigated
- Work will be done if it is warranted
Trees:
- Causing power interruptions will be trimmed before any other tree trimming work is performed
- Determined not to be an immediate threat to electrical power distribution or public safety will not be trimmed until scheduled routine maintenance
- Will be trimmed in accordance with the tree trimming methods approved by the:
-
- National Arborists Association
- American National Standards Institute
- National Arbor Day Foundation
To promote tree health and to reduce re-sprouting, this type of pruning includes:
- “The Shiago Method”
- Drop-Crotch Pruning
- Directional Pruning
Brush, Debris & Trees
Dead brush from herbicide application will not be:
- Cut down
- Cleaned up
Brush and debris from tree trimming and Right of Way clearing activities:
- Will be cleaned up only in actively maintained areas
In non-maintained areas, brush and debris will be:
- Mowed during routine maintenance
- Hand-cut into smaller pieces and left on site
Brush and debris will not be cleaned up, if they were due to:
- Storms
- Power outages
Stumps of all trees cut by hand will be treated with an approved herbicide to prevent re-sprouting.