Power line clearence from tree limbs

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DennisTMac

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Having problem with local power distriburion company wanting to trim shade tree back from both primary [7200kva] and secondary [220 line to line w/ netrual]. They say regulations require 10 vertical and lateral triming. I contacted the Texas Public Utilities commission who has control over power dist company and they stated this 10 foot clearance is required by NEC. Contact with city Electrical Inspection office resulted in statement that they knew of ON such requirement in the NEC - that NEC did not address Anything dealing with primary or secondary power distribution lines. Is there anyone who can provide me with validation that the NEC, in fact, does or does not address this tree triming clearance requirement [as stated] Thanks DennisTMac
 
The NEC (National Electrical Code) absolutely does not apply to conductors owned by the power company.

HOWEVER, The NESC (National Electrical Safety Code) very likely applies and likely has this requirement in it.

That being said the power company can usually trim trees around their power lines with impunity 'for the public good' no mater how much the trees owner may protest.
 
Here is the NEC section that shows that it does not apply to utility condutors.

90.2 Scope.

(B) Not Covered. This Code does not cover the following:

(5) Installations under the exclusive control of an electric utility where such installations

a.Consist of service drops or service laterals, and associated metering, or

b.Are located in legally established easements, rights-of-way, or by other agreements either designated by or recognized by public service commissions, utility commissions, or other regulatory agencies having jurisdiction for such installations, or

c.Are on property owned or leased by the electric utility for the purpose of communications, metering, generation, control, transformation, transmission, or distribution of electric energy.
Click to expand...
 
BOB _ Thank you for this information. That "they can do just about anything they want" is what I have been running into - 4 years ago they trimmer one of my trees back so far that it died and I've just spent $500. having it and stump removed and now they are wanting to do same to my 45 year old pecan tree. Again, thnaks for info on fact that NEC DOES NOT cover [give them their permit - as Texas Public Utilities Commission told me - to trim 10 feet off tree. Dennis T. Mac
 
I don't have a current NESC with me, a 93 is my most recent reference here. It says "trees that interfere with ungrounded conductors should be trimmed or removed." There is no distance specified.

I worked for utilities for over 20 years, and know of no specified distance. Many utilities have their own standards, and it is not uncommon for a utility employee to say "it is code" with little or no knowledge of the actual code he/she is referencing.

Jim T
 
Jim - NESC - does this stand for "National Electrical safety code"? Some form of "saftery" rule is where I would have thought such requirement would have been stated! Fact that the individuals I have had contact with, thus far, have not been able to, or would not, tell me where the rule was stated lead me to believe that they were blowing smoke. I am not apposed to the triming of tree limbs away from 7200kva single phase primary, nor the 200 secondary lines - just the distance of 10 feet, which viloates the 5 foot utility easement on my deed plat, which the power dist. co. seems to be saying to me does not have ANY LEGAL substance in their establishment of how much they are planning to trim. Thanks for reply info Dennis T.
 
Dennis

NESC does stand for the National Electrical Safety Code. It is the Code for utility lines. It is not uncommon for the NESC to leave out specific information such as clearances from trees to conductors. It is up to the utility to determine what is an appropriate distance based on their experience, etc.

Whe I worked for utilities, we were limited in what we could do outside our 10' easement. When someone didn't want their tree trimmed drastically, they wasted their time if they called the construction or engineering staff, we supported the tree trimming policy. The successful complainer usually called a local business manager, vice president, or other sympathetic higher up.

We would then get a call from one of our VP's saying not to trim a particular customers trees too much.

Realistically, utilities can' go around making customers mad any more than any other business can. You just need to find the individual who understands that.

Jim T
 
Dennis I think you are going to have to accept that they will trim the tree to their needs or wants.

I did some Googling and almost immediately found power company web sites that say 10' is the minimum distance for distribution voltages.

Okanogan County PUD

Here is another that says they trim to OSHA standards.

I would be willing to bet OSHA would be at least 10'.

PSE&G

Have you tried checking for info at the web site of the utility involved?
 
There is a lesson to be learned here. Consider the mature size of a tree before planting it if you don't want it hacked to pieces by a utility crew. You should see what they did to a neighbors beautiful blue spruce.

Despite the disgusting and ridiculious shapes our power company hacks trees into to clear the lines, our town still requires "street trees" planted in the right-of-way.
 
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