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Questions or concerns

Ph: (705) 445-1800
Email: customercare.ontario@epcor.com

Trees and powerlines

Trees or other vegetation sometimes grow too close to power lines or equipment, creating a challenge in providing safe and reliable service.

Our tree trimming initiative is intended to help protect the public, protect property and maintain electric reliability around our overhead distribution infrastructure. Throughout the summer, our team trims trees that are located near power lines and prunes them on a regular basis.

Safety

Our electrical equipment transports high voltages of electricity. Contact with trees or shrubs can result in fires.

Reliability

Many service outages and interruptions are caused by tree limbs falling into power lines, causing damage to wires, short circuits and other problems. This danger can be avoided by not planting tall trees under or near electric wires, and by routine tree trimming.

How you can help

You can help by ensuring trees of the right type and size are planted around your home. Contact our representatives for guidelines on the types of trees to plant around your home to keep them safe and healthy around power lines.

Trees and power lines

Every year, overgrown trees and other vegetation make contact with power lines. This contact creates a risk of electrical hazards including fires, electrical shock, and downed lines, which makes it a challenge to provide safe and reliable service.

​Safety

Our electrical equipment transports high voltage electricity. Trees or other vegetation sometimes grow too close to power lines which creates a safety hazard and a potential for electrical shock, power outages and fires.

 

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  3 metre rule  

To safely operate and maintain power lines, the Alberta Electrical Utility Code and the Alberta Utilities Commission recommends trees and other vegetation be approximately​ 3 metres from the power lines. This clearance area allows our crews and their equipment safely operate without obstructions. It also helps to reduce the chances of a tree co​ming in contact with the power line and causing a power outage or fire.

 

 

 

 

If a tree has fallen on a power line

Call 911 or our Power Emergency line at (780) 412-4500 if a tree has fallen on a power line.

If a tree has fallen on a power line, stay back 10 metres and call 911. Provide them with the address and location of the tree. Keep everyone back 10 metres from the tree and power line until EPCOR or emergency services can arrive and secure the scene.
 

Call our 24 hour power emergency line if the tree is:

  • Interfering with primary power lines
  • Causing power service issues
  • Causing severe stress on the power service line to your home or business

 

 

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EPCOR's tree maintenance program

Learn about our program

Landscaping guidelines for homeowners

Learn how to maintain your trees

Information for professional arborists

Things to be aware of

 

  If trimming your tree or shrub requires you to work within 7 metres of an overhead power line, call us at (780) 412-4500 and request a Safety Codes consultation. We can help provide guidance about working safely in close proximity to power lines and other electrical equipment.

 

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In an emergency

During a storm, tree branches can come into contact with power lines and cause power outages. If a tree has fallen onto a power line, we work to restore power to your home as quickly and safely as possible. This can mean trimming trees on your property to ensure power can be restored.  

If we need to trim trees in an emergency situation, the homeowner is responsible for the clean-up and will not have input on aesthetics or the visual impact. 

 

Request a tree trimming

 It's important to report any trees in your neighborhood that pose a threat to power lines, before they lead to a power outage.

 

Know the lines

Many neighborhoods have different overhead utility lines and it's important to be able to identify them so you know who to call if there's a problem, or if vegetation in encroaching on a line.

Click on image for larger version.

 

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Primary lines Secondary lines Service lines Communication lines
Primary lines
  • Typically located at the top of the power pole
  • They run from power pole to power pole
  • Maintained by us and carry a high voltage
Secondary lines
  • ​They run from pole to pole
  • Maintained by us and carry lower voltages than primary lines
Service lines
  • They run from the pole to your home
  • Maintained by us and carry a low voltage
  • As a property owner, you are responsible to ensure that any vegetation or landscaping on your property does not interfere with any of the lines that run from the pole to your home
Communication lines
  • Typically, they are the lowest lines attached to the pole
  • They run from the pole to your home
  • Maintained by your cable or telephone provider
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Disclaimer

This webpage provides information only. Any reliance placed on this information is strictly at your own risk. EPCOR does not assume any responsibility or liability for any action, loss or damage that arises out of, or is in connection with the information contained in this webpage.

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