The Enquirer’s Just Askin’ series aims to answer the questions that no one seems to have an answer for, except maybe Google.
Duke Energy, which provides electric service to over 910,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Ohio and Kentucky, is responsible for maintaining its power lines. This can mean protecting electrical infrastructure from trees, which can disrupt power or cause outages if they grow into equipment or fall across power lines.
Can Duke cut down or trim trees on private property?
In short, yes, Duke Energy can trim or cut down trees if they threaten electrical lines without necessarily obtaining permission from property owners.
According to Duke Energy, the company must prune trees — or remove them entirely — if they are located near power lines and could interfere with power distribution. It will attempt to notify and ask permission of residents prior to tree-related maintenance work, but according to its website, trees may be trimmed or removed without notification.
Duke Energy says it balances trying to minimize tree-related power outages and “good arboricultural practices,” which include pruning limbs where they join other limbs or at the trunk of the tree to prevent unhealthy stub cuts. The utility company conducts scheduled tree maintenance to prevent emergencies but also responds to more urgent situations threatening overhead or underground power lines.
Will Duke clean up tree-trimming debris?
The company said it does not always clean up debris after trimming trees or severe weather events, leaving disposal of the wood up to property owners.
Can I get Duke to trim my trees?
Residents can request that Duke Energy trim trees posing a risk to primary power lines, but trees growing near service lines — the power line located between a pole and the meter at a residence or business that brings electricity to an individual location — are the responsibility of the property owner. Duke Energy can de-energize service lines ahead of any tree work.
Duke Energy says it “makes every effort” to only trim a tree, before resorting to cutting one down entirely. The utility company acquires easements from property owners before building new power lines, which grants it access to the property for construction and maintenance.
What’s your experience with Duke Energy and your trees? Email Annie Goldman at agoldman@gannett.com.
Do you have a question for Just Askin’? Send it to us at justaskin@enquirer.com.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Just Askin’: Can Duke Energy cut down your trees?
Reporting by Annie Goldman, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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