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Vegetation Management

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Check tree trimming work near me

Find out if planned maintenance tree pruning will be occurring in your area by clicking below.

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Report overgrown vegetation near power lines

To report a tree within 10 feet of 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.

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Locate best area to plant new tree

For more information about our Tree Planting Guidelines, please reference our brochure.

Know Before You Grow

TYPES OF ELECTRIC LINES

Distribution Lines
Primary and Secondary Lines
Communications Lines
Service Drop Lines
Transmission Lines

DISTRIBUTION LINES

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.

Distribute Lines

PRIMARY POWER 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.

Primary Power Lines

SECONDARY POWER LINES

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.

Secondary Power Lines

COMMUNICATION LINES

Positioned beneath power lines, these cables provide services like phone, internet and cable TV. They are installed and maintained by the respective service providers.

Communication Lines

SERVICE DROP LINES

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.

Service Drop Lines

TRANSMISSION LINES

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.

How We Trim Trees Near Homes and Businesses
Tree Pruning Practices
How Often We Trim Trees
What to Expect When We Trim
Storm Brush Removal
Vegetation Management for Transmission
Vegetation Management Safety

HOW WE TRIM TREES NEAR HOMES AND BUSINESSES

Oncor focuses 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 7 feet will be cleared around open wire secondary lines, and three to five feet from neutrals and wrapped secondaries.

Our crews will only trim areas near the high-voltage lines between poles. Any pruning from one pole to another must be done by Oncor.

While most work occurs around high-voltage lines at the top of poles, pruning may also take place near lower secondary voltage lines below transformers. Crews do not prune near cable TV or phone lines.

TREE PRUNING PRACTICES

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 are directly 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. Ultimately, the final tree trimming method will depend on the proximity of the tree to the overhead electric line, the growth habit of the tree, the size of the limbs that need to be removed, the availability of suitable lateral limbs to prune to, and other pruning that has been done to the tree (such as thinning, stubbing, or trimming for other utilities, etc.).

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HOW OFTEN WE TRIM TREES

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.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN WE TRIM

Here is what customers can typically expect when Oncor vegetation management crews conduct tree trimming near your home or business:

Notification Ahead of Time:

Customers will receive a door card in advance of any planned maintenance pruning.

Scheduling and Presence:

It is not necessary for property owners to be present during the work. However, if preferred, Oncor will coordinate scheduling to allow the customer to be home when the work is taking place.

Work Hours:

Crews typically begin work between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. and conclude by 5 p.m. Emergency or power restoration work may occur outside those hours.

Certified Oversight:

A certified arborist is assigned to each group of vegetation management crews to oversee the work and ensure industry best practices.

Scope of Work:

Crews will only trim trees that fall within the planned scope of our vegetation management plan, which ensures 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.

Service Interruptions:

Planned tree-trimming work generally does not require a service interruption unless a hazardous situation arises during the process.

STORM BRUSH REMOVAL

Debris/Brush Removal After Routine Tree Pruning

Oncor will remove any tree debris created by us 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) is left to decompose and return nutrients to the soil, while also reducing the risk of soil erosion. Oncor does not remove debris for other reasons not related to work by Oncor, such as pruning done by cities or by communication and cable companies.

Debris/Brush Removal After Storm or Outage Events

When trees fall over or lose branches/limbs and lines are impacted, Oncor Vegetation Management crews will prune away the portion required to restore service, but will not remove the tree, limbs, or debris. If a tree falls or loses branches/limbs, it is the property owner's responsibility to remove the tree and all of the debris. If Oncor pruned away limbs/branches that have grown into the overhead electric lines in order to restore service, Oncor will remove the debris that we pruned. 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.

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FOR TRANSMISSION

Tree trimming and mowing to control growth are essential to long-term grid reliability of our transmission towers. Our routine vegetation management includes maintaining transmission rights-of-way to help reduce maintenance and repair costs while preventing hazardous electrical clearance violations.

Our utility easements typically grant Oncor the right to access property for inspection, repair and maintenance of transmission lines, including the right to remove trees and other obstructions. 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 conduct reviews to ensure the safety and preservation of endangered species and their habitats.

VEGETATION MANAGEMENT SAFETY

Never attempt to trim trees from pole to pole, or better known as high-voltage powerlines. 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.

Request Hazardous Disconnect

To report a tree within 10 feet of 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.

Request Temporary Disconnect

If you wish to hire a certified professional to conduct tree trimming from 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-install the line and reconnect the electricity. There is a nominal charge for this service.