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Our Vegetation Management program is committed to proactively minimizing vegetation-related hazards to prioritize safety and help protect you and your neighbors from power outages.
Find out if planned maintenance tree pruning will be occurring in your area by clicking below
Check routine maintenance work near meOur Vegetation Management program is committed to proactively minimizing vegetation-related hazards to prioritize safety and help protect you and your neighbors from power outages.
To report a tree near power lines that could cause a potentially hazardous condition like sparking, customers should call Oncor at 888.313.6862 to report the situation. If there is a fire or sparking occurring, call 911.
For more information about our tree-planting guidelines, please reference the brochure below.
Oncor partners with qualified vegetation management professionals to help manage trees and vegetation near electric infrastructure. We primarily focus on trimming vegetation with a mature height of less than 10 feet from high-voltage primary distribution lines that could affect service reliability.
At least seven feet will be cleared around open wire secondary lines, and three to five feet from neutrals and wrapped secondaries.
Our vegetation management teams will only trim areas near the high-voltage lines between poles. Any trimming from one pole to another must be done by Oncor.
While most work occurs around high-voltage lines at the top of poles, trimming may also take place near lower secondary voltage lines below transformers. Pruning does not occur near cable TV or phone lines.
As part of our vegetation work, potentially dead, diseased or hazardous trees will also be evaluated for possible removal, according to industry standards. Trees that grow near or beneath power lines pose a serious safety and reliability risk. Each year, trees and vegetation are also one of the top causes of power outages.
Vegetation work, including trimming or potential removals, may take place around areas where new power lines are scheduled to be constructed or where upgrades are planned for existing lines. Ensuring a safe work clearance between trees and energized power lines helps protect the safety of Oncor employees, contractors, and members of the public.
Oncor removes brush and vegetation around the base of certain poles to maintain reliability and reduce ground level fuels, such as dry grasses, shrubs, and other plants. This work goes beyond typical tree trimming to help prevent potential ignitions and protect our facilities during a wildfire.
Oncor recognizes the value of trees within our communities, and we work hard to balance that value with our commitment to providing safe and reliable electric service. Oncor uses natural target pruning, better known as directional pruning, to maintain clearances between trees and high-voltage power lines. Directional pruning practices can include V-shaped pruning of trees around distribution power lines and the cutting of tree limbs where they would naturally shed. Very often, trees that remain under distribution lines, and are taller than the lines, will have a V or Y shape. While this may not be the most aesthetically pleasing form, it is an arborologically correct method that will help promote the long-term health of the trees.
As part of our vegetation work, potentially dead, diseased or hazardous trees will also be evaluated for possible removal, according to industry standards. Trees may require removal if they are dead or diseased, if they are in a hazardous location such as directly beneath or next to power lines or equipment, or to help protect the safety of personnel working near energized lines during new construction or equipment upgrade projects. Potential removals are determined on a case-by-case basis.
While vegetation management teams aim to cut removed trees close to the ground, stump grinding or root removal is generally not included. Oncor aims to provide advance notice about all planned vegetation management, particularly tree removals, and will strive to discuss planned work with impacted customers.
Trees that grow near or beneath power lines pose a serious safety risk. Ultimately, our vegetation management activity will depend on the tree’s proximity to overhead power lines, the growth habit of the tree, the size of the limbs that may need to be removed, the availability of suitable lateral limbs to prune to, and other vegetation management that has already been done to the tree (such as thinning, stubbing, trimming by other utilities, etc.).
Oncor conducts routine tree pruning around our service areas, focusing on wires that extend from pole to pole, to ensure the safety and reliability of our service. As we maintain hundreds of thousands of miles of overhead electric lines, it may be hard to estimate when the next tree pruning will take place in a certain area.
Although we maintain a robust plan and schedule, completion times can be impacted by storm restoration and unique vegetation growing seasons, which may require us to shift our focus. When we are planning to be in your area, our notification team will leave a door hanger card, which will let you know when you should expect the tree trimming crews and provide general information about the program.
You can also use our Vegetation Management search tool to see when tree trimming will take place near you.
Additional vegetation work, including trimming or potential removals, may also take place around areas where new power lines are scheduled to be constructed or where upgrades are planned for existing lines. Ensuring a safe work clearance between trees and energized power lines helps protect the safety of Oncor employees and contractors.
Here is what customers can typically expect when our vegetation management teams work near your home or business:
Customers will receive a door hanger card in advance of any planned maintenance trimming.
It is not necessary for property owners to be present during the work. However, if preferred, Oncor will strive to coordinate scheduling to allow the customer to be home when the work is taking place.
Crews typically begin work between 7:30 AM and 8 AM and conclude by 5 PM Emergency or power restoration work may occur outside these hours.
A certified arborist is assigned to each group of vegetation management professionals to oversee their work and help ensure industry best practices.
Tree trimming will only take place within the planned scope of our vegetation management plan, which helps ensure customers have access to safe and reliable electricity. Any additional trimming, such as for aesthetic purposes, must be handled by a private arborist at the owner’s expense.
Planned tree trimming work generally does not require a service interruption unless a hazardous situation arises during the process.
Oncor will remove any tree debris created by our teams when performing routine maintenance for distribution lines and transmission lines in manicured areas. In some cases, debris that results from work along Transmission right of ways (ROWs) may be left to decompose and return nutrients to the soil, which reduces the risk of soil erosion. Oncor does not remove debris for reasons unrelated to Oncor work, such as pruning done by cities or by communication and cable companies.
When trees fall over or lose branches/limbs and lines are impacted, Oncor vegetation management teams will prune away the portion required to restore service, but will not remove the tree, limbs, or debris Oncor did not create. When a tree falls or loses branches/limbs but does not impact power lines, it is the property owner's responsibility to remove the tree and all of the debris. When limbs/branches that have grown into overhead power lines are trimmed in order to restore service, our teams will remove the resulting debris . Following major storm events, debris removal may take up to several weeks, as our first priority is to restore power as quickly and safely as we can.
Tree-trimming and mowing to control growth are essential to the long-term reliability of our transmission facilities. Our routine vegetation management includes maintaining Transmission right of ways (ROWs) to help reduce maintenance and repair costs while preventing hazardous electrical-clearance violations. As part of our efforts to maintain transmission ROW, potentially dead, diseased or hazardous trees will also be evaluated for possible removal, according to industry standards.
Oncor utility easements typically grant us the right to access private property for the inspection, repair and maintenance of transmission lines. This includes the right to remove trees and other obstructions in accordance with the terms of the easement or that threaten the reliability of our equipment in the easement. In determining what trees or other vegetation need attention, Oncor applies the National Electric Safety Code for determining minimum alternative vertical and horizontal clearances required to maintain a safe distance between power lines and roads, rooftops and bodies of water. Additionally, we employ a team of biologists that conducts reviews to ensure the safety and preservation of endangered species and their habitats.
Never attempt to trim trees from pole to pole, which are high-voltage power lines. You could seriously hurt yourself or others around you.
Per Texas state law, only line clearance-certified personnel who are approved by Oncor are authorized to work (themselves or their equipment) within 6 feet of high-voltage lines. OSHA requirements state that non-certified personnel should stay a minimum of 10 feet away from high-voltage lines.
To report a tree that is near power lines and that could cause a potentially hazardous condition like sparking, customers should call Oncor at 888.313.6862. If there is a fire or sparking occurring, call 911.
If you wish to hire a certified professional to conduct tree trimming around the service line that connects the high-voltage lines to your home or business, you should contact your Retail Electric Provider or Oncor at 888.313.6862 to request a temporary disconnect and reconnect. This allows Oncor to temporarily lower the service line to your home or business, thereby allowing you to safely prune the trees. After you complete the work, Oncor will re-connect the line and reconnect the electricity. There is a nominal charge for this service.
A minimum of 10ft. will be cleared away from all high voltage primary distribution lines, including overhang. All cuts will be taken to a proper lateral. A minimum of 7ft. will be cleared around all open wire secondaries, and vegetation will be cleared to 3-5ft. from neutrals and wrapped secondaries. Click here to view an example.
There are several legislative and governing policies in place to ensure that we can continue to provide safe and reliable electric service. This includes:
This work is completed in phases and schedules can change; we are unable to provide a specific timeframe for when work may occur at a particular property. The project may take place over several months as crews move through the area. Weather and other localized coordination activities may impact scheduling.
Please call 1-800-518-2375 to let us know if you have pets, livestock, or other animals on your property. A representative will add a note for your address, and vegetation management crews review all property notes before work begins in the area.
Oncor conducts routine maintenance along sections of power lines each year as part of delivering safe and reliable service. This work is performed as part of our existing rate structure. If you need tree trimming performed on wires going from a pole to your house, you will need to hire a private arborist. Please call 888-313-6862 and request a temporary disconnect to allow for your arborist to work safely. There are charges associated with disconnecting and reconnecting service.
These are power lines that deliver electricity from substations to individual consumers, such as homes and businesses. They are the final stage in the delivery of electricity, carrying power at lower voltages than transmission lines.
These are high-voltage wires that carry electricity from substations to neighborhoods. They’re typically located at the very top of utility poles and are maintained by Oncor.
These are lower-voltage lines that distribute electricity from primary lines to individual homes and businesses. They’re often found just below primary lines and are also maintained by Oncor.
Positioned beneath power lines, these cables provide services like phone, internet and cable TV. They are installed and maintained by the respective service providers.
These are the wires that run from the utility pole directly to a home or business. While electricity flows through them from the utility, customers are responsible for maintaining them. If needed, customers can request a temporary disconnect before working near them.
These are the highest-voltage power lines in the electric system. They carry large amounts of electricity over long distances—from power plants to substations that serve entire cities and towns.
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