Tree Placement is Important for Safety and Service Reliability
Posted on August 30th, 2023
Trees are one of the major causes of power outages in areas with overhead utility lines. When trees contact live wires, they may become conductors of electricity and cause power outages or create dangerous situations for anyone coming in contact with them.
When selecting a tree for planting, be sure to consider the mature height of the tree when determining a suitable planting location. Native species often will grow better with fewer insect and disease problems than nonnative trees.
For areas near houses and overhead utilities, there are three tree height zones for small, medium and large trees as depicted in the graphic above. Plant only large shrubs and small trees with mature heights of 20 feet or less in the no tree zone.
Before you plant, call Arkansas 811 at least 48 hours in advance (not counting week-ends and holidays) to have your underground utilities marked at no charge.
Trees planted within First Electric’s easement (15 feet on either side of the line) will have to be removed once trimming becomes necessary. All trees along fences, roadways and other unmaintained areas will be removed during regularly scheduled maintenance regardless of size or height.