Trees Near Power Lines: Who Trims What, and Who to Call

First, Find Out Who Your Utility Is

Around Asheboro, your electricity may come from Duke Energy or from Randolph Electric Membership Corporation (Randolph EMC), a member-owned co-op. A few nearby cities, such as High Point and Lexington, run their own electric systems. Your power bill shows which one serves you, and its tree rules are the ones that apply.

Main Lines vs. the Line to Your House

• Primary lines are the main lines that run from pole to pole, usually along roads or property lines. They serve more than just your home, and the utility keeps trees trimmed back from them.
• The service line is the line from the nearest pole to the meter on your house. Randolph EMC calls it the secondary line. Who handles trees near it depends on your utility, as shown below.
• Phone and cable lines are not the power company's. Duke Energy notes that it does not maintain them, so if a tree is on one of those, call your phone or cable company.

Who Trims What: Duke Energy and Randolph EMC

Here is what each utility says on its own website:

• Duke Energy, main lines: if a tree is a risk to a primary line, you can submit a tree pruning request online. Duke says a vegetation management professional will follow up within 10 business days.
• Duke Energy, your service line: Duke says the property owner has primary responsibility for keeping it clear. Before you or anyone you hire works around it, contact Duke to have the line de-energized (turned off) at no cost. If a tree or limb is pressing hard on the line, you can ask Duke to evaluate it.
• Randolph EMC, main lines: the co-op trims its rights-of-way on a regular rotation and asks members to report trees growing into lines that look dangerous.
• Randolph EMC, the line to your house: call the co-op so a crew can trim the tree. If the tree needs to come down, Randolph EMC says it will disconnect the secondary line so you can have a tree service cut the tree down.
• Randolph EMC Trade-A-Tree: if a tree growing into a primary line is likely to cause problems, the co-op may remove it through this program. Ask the co-op whether your tree qualifies before you pay to have it taken down.

Programs change, so check your utility's website or call the number on your bill before you plan any work near a line.

How to Ask the Utility for Help

• Duke Energy: use the tree pruning request form in the Vegetation Management section of duke-energy.com. Duke asks you to update the contact information on your account first, and it sends status updates by text, email or voice.
• Randolph EMC: call the co-op or use the contact page at randolphemc.com. Its offices are open weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Who asks: usually the property owner, Duke says, though anyone can report an unsafe condition.
• Planned trimming: Duke says it gives North Carolina customers at least three days' notice before planned pruning, usually with a door hanger.

Why You Should Not Trim Near a Line Yourself

Both utilities say to leave tree work near power lines to trained professionals. Trees and limbs can carry electricity when they touch a line. Randolph EMC also warns never to climb a tree near a line: even a branch that is not touching the wire can come in contact with it once more weight is added. The basics:

• The 10-foot rule. Federal OSHA rules say a person who is not trained and qualified for work around power lines must keep themselves, and anything they are holding, like a ladder or pole saw, at least 10 feet from overhead lines up to 50,000 volts, and farther from higher-voltage lines.
• North Carolina's own law. The Overhead High-Voltage Line Safety Act covers lines over 600 volts. Before anyone works closer to one of these lines than the law allows, whoever is responsible for the work must notify the line's owner at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays, or as soon as possible in an emergency. The utility then works out how to make the work safe, such as temporarily turning off the line.

These are safety basics, not legal advice, and rules change. Check with your utility before any work near a line.

If a Tree Is on a Power Line

• Stay back. Treat every line as live, even if it is on the ground or your power is out. Randolph EMC says a line is not considered dead until its crews have tested and grounded it.
• Call 911 and your utility right away. Report it by phone, not with an online form.
• Never touch or drive over a downed line, and keep children and pets away from the tree and anything it is touching.
• If a line comes down on your car, Randolph EMC says to stay inside, call for help, and wait for the utility to cut the power. If fire forces you out, jump clear without touching the car and the ground at the same time, land with feet together, and hop away.

When a tree takes down a line, the utility clears its wires to restore power. Duke Energy says it does not clean up storm debris; the wood left behind is the property owner's responsibility. That is where our emergency tree services come in, once the utility says the line is safe.

Trees Near Lines in Asheboro and Randolph County

We are not a utility line-clearance crew. If your tree is touching or close to a power line, the utility comes first. When you call us, tell us if any lines run through or near your tree. We will look at it with you and tell you plainly if the utility needs to clear or turn off the line before any tree trimming or tree removal can start. Once the line is safe, we can handle the tree, the cleanup and stump grinding.

Call or text our main phone at (336) 523-8278 or our alternate phone at (336) 479-4339 for a free estimate. If a tree is on a line right now, call 911 and your utility first.