Trees and good electric service are both important to our community. Unfortunately, the two aren't always compatible and OPPD must trim trees for safety purposes, as required by law, and to avoid service interruptions.

OPPD trims tree limbs away from overhead power lines in order to achieve two critical objectives:
1. Public safety
2. Reliability of electric service

Many service outages and interruptions are caused by tree limbs which fall into power lines causing damage to wires, short circuits and other problems. That creates potential danger for you and your property, danger that can be avoided by not planting tall-growing trees under or near electric wires, and by routine tree-trimming.

Trimming Methods

OPPD adheres to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300, Standard Practices for Trees, Shrubs and Other Woody Plant Maintenance. This standard, endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture, the National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Arborist Association, requires tree-trimmers to cut branches back to the "parent limb." This practice allows the pruning cuts to "heal" more rapidly, reducing the chances of insect and disease damage, and promotes a healthier regrowth of branches that are directed away from the power lines.

Pruning considerations include: species of tree, growth and regrowth rates, location of trees in proximity to power lines, voltage of power lines, type of power-line construction, length of pruning cycle, natural tree shape and branching pattern, general tree condition, appearance after pruning and tree-owner input.

Below are illustrations of the types of trimming that OPPD performs. The style used depends on how the tree is placed in relation to the power line and the type of tree that is being trimmed.

In V-cutting, branches are pruned back toward the center of tree crown.
  

  Notch

OPPD uses the "natural trimming" method (endorsed by the Tree Care Industry Association). It is called natural trimming because branches are pruned back to a natural point of growth in the crown of the tree. Natural trimming is healthier than tree "topping," which is the indiscriminate cutting back of tree branches to reduce the size of the tree crown.

Although topping generally leaves the tree with a more uniform or balanced appearance, the International Society of Arboriculture calls topping "perhaps the most harmful pruning practice known." According to the Society, topping stresses trees, makes them more vulnerable to insect and disease infections and causes decay.

Again, careful planting of trees and shrubs away from power lines can help eliminate the need for trimming in the future. For more information about tree planting, see our Tree Planting Tips page.  

Following are answers to the most commonly asked questions about OPPD's tree-trimming practices:

Q: When will OPPD trim or remove trees?

A: OPPD will trim or remove trees that interfere with or have a potential for interfering with existing OPPD lines, or that obstruct the route of new lines. There are, however, two exceptions:

1. Trees interfering with service wires (wires that run from OPPD poles to the customer's house or building) and yardlight wires will generally not be trimmed. Arrangements can be made to have these wires temporarily removed to permit the property owner or a contractor to trim or remove the tree. If you want a service or yardlight wire temporarily disconnected, please call OPPD several days in advance to ensure the availability of a crew. This service is not available on Sundays or holidays, and it may be delayed due to emergency work.
2. OPPD will not trim trees near streetlights or yardlights to improve illumination.

If OPPD requires that a tree be trimmed or removed, all branches and wood cut from the tree will be removed by OPPD. The property owner may keep any portion of the wood desired, but OPPD will not cut wood to uniform length or stack the wood. Trees will be cut as close to ground level as possible. OPPD will not remove stumps.

Fallen trees or limbs that have fallen from standing trees are the responsibility of the property owner. The property owner also is responsible for the disposal of all limbs and wood resulting from the trimming of storm-damaged trees for OPPD's service restoration efforts.

Q: Is permission of the property owner necessary before doing tree work?

A: Provision of right-of-way easements grant OPPD the authority to trim trees without property-owner permission to provide for a safe and reliable electric system. However, OPPD respects the property of its customer-owners and will notify the property owner of the need for tree work before trimming is done. In unusual or emergency situations, it may be necessary to trim trees without first notifying the property owner in order to restore service or eliminate safety hazards.

OPPD recommends the removal of trees that will require extensive trimming on a regular basis. However, trees will not be removed without the property owner's permission.

Q: How does OPPD know when a tree needs to be trimmed or removed?

A: The following priority will be followed in determining when and where tree trimming will be done:

1. Reports of electrical outages caused by trees.
2. Areas where trees have been damaged by storms.
3. During the regular tree-trimming cycle.
4. Periodic inspections by OPPD personnel.
5. Reports from customers indicating potential tree/power-line problems.

Q: What qualifications do OPPD foresters and contract tree-trimming crews have?

A: OPPD employs a highly trained staff of foresters, who have college degrees and experience in forestry or natural resources, and are certified arborists with both the International Society of Arboriculture and the Nebraska Arborist Association. The forestry team is responsible for directing the work of contractor line-clearance crews.

It is essential that tree trimming be done properly to ensure safe and dependable electric service, and to provide for the welfare of the trees on your property. To assure that proper tree trimming and removal is performed, OPPD contracts with professional line-clearance tree-trimming firms. These firms are required to be licensed to work in OPPD’s service area, and must adhere to all standards, guidelines and laws governing the performance of tree work. Each contractor employee receives ongoing training to achieve and maintain "line-clearance tree-trimmer" certification by the Occupational Safety and Health Association. Identification cards are issued to employees of the tree-trimming firms contracted by OPPD.

Q: Can a private property owner or commercial tree-trimmer obtain help in trimming or removing trees near electric wires?

A: OPPD will assist property owners and/or their commercial contractors, at their request, with the trimming and removal of trees that are near OPPD electric wires. When a tree-trimming request is received, an OPPD representative will make an inspection and explain to the property owner or contractor what OPPD can do to assist. OPPD's assistance may include one or both of the following activities:

1. The temporary rerouting, de-energizing or removal of electric wires that may be hazardous to workers. OPPD will coordinate with the property owner or contractor the time the work can be done.
2. The trimming of the tree so that it can be safely removed or trimmed by the property owner or contractor. All wood will be left on the property owner's premises. OPPD is not responsible for cutting wood to size or piling brush. The customer or contractor will be responsible for removing brush that is blocking sidewalks or driveways.

To assure proper tree trimming and removal, OPPD uses professional tree-trimming firms. It is essential that tree trimming be done properly to ensure dependable electric service and to provide for the welfare of the trees on your property. Identification cards are issued to employees of the tree-trimming firms hired by OPPD.

Q: Are wood and wood chips available to the public?

A: Wood that is not wanted by property owners will be made available to the public on the following terms:

• Persons who want wood on private property must make arrangements with the property owners.
• Tree crews cannot cut wood to uniform size or smaller than necessary for normal handling.
• Tree crews cannot load wood into private vehicles or trailers.
• Crews will not stack or separate wood.
• Wood and wood chips may be dumped on private or public property with approval of the property owner only when a savings in crew labor hours and equipment hours is evident.

For more information about OPPD's tree-trimming practices, please call 536-4131, or outside the metropolitan area, toll-free 1-877-536-4131.