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Safe Tree Trimming

Tuesday | May 1, 2018
All News

May is National Electrical Safety Month

Were you aware tree limbs may become a safety hazard when in contact with power lines? Did you know attempting to trim a tree in contact with a power line puts you in danger of electrocution? Have you ever been uncertain about when and where to trim your trees located near power lines? 

The warm weather of spring often arrives with May, which is also recognized as National Electrical Safety Month. As trees begin to grow and bud, they may come in contact with power lines, creating confusion about responsibility and concern about member safety. United Power wants to make sure you know the answers to your questions so you can safely tackle your spring yard work. 

(For quick reference about who’s responsible for maintaining trees near power lines, please read “Who’s Responsible” below.) 

When you encounter a tree in the vicinity of a primary power line, immediately contact United Power. Avoid trimming when you encounter the following: tree limbs in direct contact with a power line, dead tree limbs hanging near power lines, tree limbs growing toward power lines. 

Observe the Ten-Foot Rule to safely trim trees on your property located near power lines. This means anything inside that radius may put you at risk. For your safety, United Power will disconnect secondary lines when notified in advance of any tree trimming activity at no cost to the member. Remember to trim only from a steady, level surface, removing small, easy to manage sections. Large tree/branch sections may fall unexpectedly and risk taking down power lines and causing potential injury. If this is not possible, contact a professional tree trimmer. 

When in doubt about safety or responsibility, please contact United Power at 303-637-1300. We’ll be happy to send out a troubleshooter or one of our tree contractors to assess the situation and keep you safe. 

Who's Responsible

United Power has an aggressive tree trimming program to reduce the number of tree related outages. However, in some cases, the homeowner may be responsible for keeping a line to their home clear of trees. Here is how it works:

  • United Power is responsible for trimming around primary lines. These are lines running from pole to pole. United Power maintains these lines because they are higher voltage and require special handling from a qualified tree trimming crew.
  • Members are responsible for obstructions in secondary lines. These are typically single lines stretching from our pole to a member’s home - often seen in backyards, crossing from the main electric line to the home. 

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United Power
500 Cooperative Way
Brighton, CO 80603

Member Services: 303-637-1300
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Report an Outage: 303-637-1350

©2023 United Power. Your Local Electric Cooperative.

  • My Cooperative
    • Your Cooperative
      • About Your Cooperative
      • Innovating Energy
      • Board Of Directors
      • Cooperative Leadership
      • From Your President & CEO
      • Our Cooperative Roadmap
      • Bylaws, Rates & Tariffs
    • Member Benefits
      • Annual Meeting & Director Election
      • Capital Credits
      • Member Discount Program
      • Member Choice Grants
  • My Account
    • Payments & Billing
      • Online Account Login
      • Payment & Billing Options
      • Update Your Account
      • Understanding Your Bill
      • Understanding Demand
      • Power Portal
      • Billing Assistance
    • Start, Stop or Transfer
      • Start or Transfer Service
      • Deposits & Fees
      • Member Handbook
      • Stop Service
  • New Construction
    • Construction Projects
    • New Construction Application
    • Contact A Project Coordinator
  • Outage & Safety
    • Outages
      • Outage Center
      • Report An Outage
      • Outage Map
      • Report Streetlight Problem
    • Safety
      • Public Safety Demonstrations
      • Fire Mitigation
      • Vegetation Management
      • Dig Safe, Plant Safe
      • Portable Generators
      • Safety Tips & Resources
  • Energy Programs
    • Programs
      • Managing My Energy
      • Rebates & Programs
      • Power Portal
      • Commercial Programs & Services
    • Energy Options
      • Residential Rates
      • Going Solar
      • Electric Vehicles
      • Smart Rewards
      • Green Power Partners
  • News & Community
    • Co-op News
      • Recent News
      • United Newsline
      • United Power Pride
      • Reader Rewards
      • Annual Reports
      • Media Contacts
    • My Community
      • Get Involved
      • Scholarships
      • Youth Trips
      • Operation Round Up
      • Member Choice Grants
      • Sponsorships