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Texas Gardening
headeranderson_gw

powerline and trees? txu dfw

19 years ago

I just moved to an older home in the Arlington area and I am very new to seeing power lines that are not buried. There are two huge oaks in my backyard that need to be trimmed by an electric company. I was not living in Texas during the deregulation so now I don't know who to call to get them trimmed. I have Spark energy but TXU still owns the lines right? Also, if I do have to call TXU for tree trimming, will they bill me? How much?

Featured Answer
  • 15 years ago

    I disagree with everyone here.. TXU(Oncor) does not butcher trees. Most Foremans or Supervisors ARE Arborist and have the knowledge to cut trees properly. They do come around when thta area is Due(or someone on that circuit is having arcing or power outages due to trees. The people that plant trees in the 20FT span should know better. ANd BURIED lines--- They are going to be ripping up all your landscaping to fix it and they don't have to put it back. TXU has a lot of power and it has many laws saying what they can do. They take 10ft 4inches which BTW is the MINIMUM requirements as to not BUTCHER the tree- if you complain and fight- they take the max which is 20 ft so they don't have to deal with you again for a long long time. If you threaten verbally or physically it is automatic arrest(if the Supervisor says) Most understand and will cut come slack. And many Tree trimming companies can not trim Trees in the Power line area unless certified to do so. Many people have learn the hard way- and it cost thousands of dollars for those trimmer to trim your lines- But letting you know now- After the fight-- TXU(ONcor always wins) The law that was passed along time ago stands and gives them power to no supply your electricity if they can't trim. I have seen a multitude of lawyers loose to this law. Or TXU cut power to the house(everyone on that circuit!) and the owner can do nothing- If there are no lines-- no other electric provider can come in. Its a shame that people feel that ELECTRCITY is a RIGHT and not a privilege!

    Those tree trimmers work in ASURD climate and hours- and I know personally that my boyfriend(Supervisor for his crews) has worked over 30 + hours WITHOUT sleep(as well as his crews) to get trees trimmed in a STorm(ICE-Tornaodo-whatever casues trees to cause outages) TO GET peoples eletric back on-MANY times while his family is sitting at home in the dark and cold without electriciy.. You peopl do not appreciate the work these people do for you...

    Comments (9)

    • 19 years ago

      wait for them to come to you - at least that is the way I do it, I let them come to me. They have never charged yet.

    • 19 years ago

      When the power company "trims" trees, it is not done for aesthetics. They will "whack at will". If you want to take the BEST possible care of the trees, you may want to hire an arborist. There have been numerous stories of the contractors doing the trimming indiscriminately butchering trees. They are only clearing a path, not looking after the trees' or your best interest.

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    • 19 years ago

      Thanks Justin,

      At this point I don't care if they whack down the whole tree. I have about 17 huge oaks on a small lot and there is just too much shade. It's great for the electricity, but it is going to be very difficult to get anything to grow--including the grass. I came from a lot with full sun and no trees to full trees and no sun. Also, from the looks of it the choke cherry is killing one of the oaks already. I've got a lot of trimming to do.

    • 19 years ago

      If the trees are in your yard you may have to pay for the trimming or if you want them down all the way down.
      My dad had a tree trimmed and the guy let a large limb fall on the power line going from the house to the pole, dad was lucky and wasn't charged but he was told that if it happened again he would be charged to the sum of 300.00 for repairs.
      As Justin said the power company does not care how the trim the trees putting many at risk for breaking limbs, plus they will look very ugly when their done.
      They will not cut them a all the way down this would be your own responsibility.

    • 19 years ago

      Agreed, they will look butchered when the power company finishes. Recently Centerpoint Energy came out and hacked at the mature trees and shrubs in the area that are near power lines. The result is really ugly (it's right along the neighborhood thoroughfares, so I see it every day). I'm so glad those aren't my trees and shrubs (they murdered a red tip photinia that was probably 15 feet high).

    • 19 years ago

      They won't take the whole tree down, they will deform it & leave it.

      I have a mountain cedar in my backyard that was "trimmed" by the power co. last year. Now it needs to come down because it will never recover.

    • 19 years ago

      Now is the time to have all of your oaks thinned out if you havent already done so. If they are near a power line, it is much better to have your tree man do the necessary trimming back than wait for the electric company to come thru. We are lucky that the company our area uses is very good, but not all are. Better safe than sorry. This also helps during storms...less mess and propensity for damage. We should keep all our trees trimmed up and back if we live in a hurricane or tornado prone area.

    • 19 years ago

      The power co. here sent out a letter a couple of years ago that they would be trimming the trees & they had hired a "professional arboritist". Well, the usual crew of non-english speaking guys showed up, climbed up the trees and whacked a big v in the trees!! Just like they always have in the past. At least they are hackberries & mulberries so no harm. They won't cut the pecan, even though the neighbors powerline runs right through it. BUT they will take down the lines & put them back up so you can do it. And that is free!! Only thing you'll ever get free from the power company.
      After Hurricane Alicia the power company went through town and whacked the tops off most of the palm trees! Their excuse was that they might knock down the power lines after a storm! DUH! The hurricane was over & done with!! Idiots!
      Good luck with them.
      Tally HO!

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