Why We Trim Trees
A tree planted in the right location can make your home and community a lovely place to live. In the summer, trees shade your house from the summer sun, reducing temperatures indoors. In the winter, trees block your home from the cold winter winds. These same trees can cause real trouble when it comes to providing you reliable electric service.

Trees planted under or near power lines are a potentially dangerous hazard. Serious or fatal shocks can occur when working near or playing in trees near power lines. Trees that branch into our electrical lines can cause momentary short circuits (flickering lights) or major outages when combined with thunderstorms, high winds or sleet and snow.

Which Trees We Trim
Trees that grow into power lines cause unnecessary power outages. Prevention is key and that is why Tipmont REMC trims trees as part of our on-going maintenance program. We trim away branches growing through or around our lines. We also remove branches growing above lines, where snow or ice could cause branches to sag or fall onto live lines. In some cases, we may even remove entire trees that endanger our lines. This includes trees that are weak, diseased, drying or severely damaged. It may also include trees that would have to be trimmed so much that they would not survive or would be very unsightly.

Tipmont REMC pays for the tree trimming done in your neighborhood. When we trim or remove a tree, we clean up the area and haul away the brush. When storms knock trees into our lines, we do not clean up or remove debris left behind.

How We Trim Trees
Tipmont REMC hires professional tree-trimming contractors that specialize in this type of work. Currently the contractor Tipmont utilizes is Asplundh.

The following codes are used to mark trees:

Red dots= trees to be trimmed
Red X= trees to be cut; wood left for customer's disposal
Red line=  brush (to be cut)

Since 2002, red paint has been used to mark all trees. Any markings in yellow or blue are old and do not indicate pending action. 

Planning and Planting For The Future
You can assist us in this effort by planting trees in the right location. By following a few basic guidelines you can add value to your home without causing unnecessary power outages.

A few tips to consider prior to planting trees:

• Before you dig, call toll-free 800.382.5544 to locate any underground power lines
• Deciduous (leaf dropping) trees should be planted on the south and west sides of your home to cool in summer and allow sun to enter the house in the winter
• Evergreen trees should be planted on the north of your home to serve as a windbreak against cold northern winds
• Trees planted within 15 feet of electric lines should be no more than 20 feet tall when fully grown
• Trees planted within 15 to 30 feet of electrical lines should be no more than 30 feet tall when fully grown.

If you have questions about Tipmont's tree-trimming practices or if you want more information about planting trees near power lines, send us an email or call us toll-free at 800.726.3953 and ask for our tree-trimming specialist.