1. How can trees affect my power?
Trees can affect service reliability, either at the precise
location where a tree may contact a line, at other locations on that line, or
at other locations on the electric grid. Fallen trees can interrupt power to
many customers.
In a worse case scenario, a tree can tear down the entire line and break the
poles holding the line in place. However, a tree or even a limb can fall across
two of the wires on the pole and create a path for electricity flow. When this
happens, protective equipment will generally de-energize the line.
High growing brushes, shrubs, vines and trees may cause electrical blinks and
flickers. If you have concerns about trees or vines growing near power lines,
Contact
Us. or call
for a line clearing specialist at 388-2323 from the Treasure Valley area, or
1-800-488-6151 for all other areas. To be safe, never attempt to prune a tree
near our wires yourself.
2. Are there safety
issues surrounding trees and power lines?
Serious injuries or death may occur if energized power lines
are touched. Main lines are not insulated; they are bare wires.
Trees and tree limbs can tear down power lines. When trees grow close to and into the lines, there's a possibility of someone climbing a tree and making contact with an energized line. The lines are just as dangerous if touched by someone climbing in a tree, as they would be if touched by someone standing on the ground.
3. My trees haven't caused any
power outages. Why are you cutting or pruning them?
Idaho Power maintains power lines before trees and brush are
close enough to cause outages in a manner consistent with good arboricultural
practices. If we wait until the trees and brush actually cause outages, then
we've failed to reach our goal to provide customers safe, reliable power while
at the same time minimizing any adverse effects to the health of trees.
4. Will I be notified before a
tree crew comes to prune trees in my yard or neighborhood?
Brochures are left on each customer’s door before crews
arrive for routine maintenance work that is preplanned and scheduled for the
area. In emergency situations or in follow-ups related to outages that cannot
be planned ahead of time, we are unable to give prior notification.
5. Does Idaho Power prune or remove
trees other than those near power lines?
We are only involved with the maintenance and removal of trees
and other vegetation that might endanger the public or the safe and reliable
operation of poles and lines for the delivery of electricity.
6. When is the best time to prune
trees?
Most professionals recommend tree pruning in the dormant season (during winter
when trees don't grow). Most professionals advise if you are not severely pruning
a tree, it can be pruned any time of year.
7. How does Idaho Power decide
when to prune, or is this done at random?
We have a routine cycle maintenance program for trees and brush growth around
power lines. In cases where tree conditions are worse, one line may be maintained
more often than another.
If a particular line is not currently scheduled for maintenance, but begins
to show an unacceptable number of tree-related outages, it will be maintained
sooner.
8. How often does Idaho Power
prune trees in my area?
We employ a systematic approach to maintaining more than 20,000 miles of overhead
power lines. The condition of trees and brush around the power lines dictates
our need to manage the growth. Depending on the conditions on a given line,
our maintenance cycle is about every three years.
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9. How much will be cut from my
trees?
Each tree is different and must be considered individually. Trees with trunks
close to the power lines require much heavier pruning than trees located farther
from the line.
Some techniques that are appropriate on hardwood trees cannot be used on some soft-wooded species. When pruning operations are performed, our trimming experts make every attempt to prune sufficient clearance so that the tree will remain safe until we return on our next routine maintenance.
10. Does Idaho Power “round-over”
and/or “shape” trees?
We do not “round” trees over because it's
not good for the health of the trees.
We subscribe to a method of pruning called lateral and directional pruning. These methods are endorsed by many in the tree-care industry as being the best pruning technique for the health of the tree.
The basis for lateral pruning is that each limb removed from a tree is removed either where it joins another limb or at the trunk.
This procedure is different than the philosophy of “rounding” trees over in which limbs are cut at arbitrary points normally leaving unhealthy “stub” cuts.
Directional pruning involves cutting a limb back to another limb, or lateral,
so the limb's future growth is directed away from power lines. With directional
pruning techniques, tree growth causes minimal impact to public safety and electrical
service.
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11. Are the tree pruners trained
professionals?
Yes. Each crew has at least one person who is a certified arborist
or who has completed an advance course in arboricultural training. The area
supervisors, the Idaho Power line clearing specialists and the staff notifying
customers in advance about the pruning project, are all certified arborists.
12. Is there a charge for pruning
trees on my property?
Idaho Power prunes trees to ensure safe, reliable electric service
to you. The cost of managing the natural growth around power lines is part of
the rates approved by the public utility commissions in both Idaho and Oregon.
13. Can I prune the trees myself?
Pruning trees around power lines should only be attempted by
trained professionals. Serious injuries and even fatalities have occurred when
untrained individuals do this work without the assistance of qualified professional.
Please Contact
Us.
or call us at 388-2323 from the Treasure Valley area, or 1-800-488-6151 for
other areas, for an evaluation of the trees and vegetation around power lines
prior to any removals.
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14. What types of trees and/or
plants should be planted near transformers and power lines?
Trees with a mature height of less than 25 feet are the trees
of choice under power lines. See our Tree Slide Show,
or check out our Landscaping information for more
details.
15. Is Idaho Power responsible
for clean-up after pruning trees?
The majority of our pruning and cutting occurs during routine
line maintenance cycles. Our policy is to dispose of any small limbs and brush
in landscaped settings. Any wood larger than 4 inches in diameter is cut into
manageable lengths for your use.
In non-landscaped sites, pruned vegetation and wood is left in place. This material will bio-degrade.
When an “Act of God” (such as lightning, ice storms, high winds, hurricanes, tornadoes) cause trees or other vegetation to fall across power lines and create power outages, we cut the trees and brush so poles and lines can be replaced and re-energized. Disposal of any wood, limbs or debris resulting from this type of emergency operation is the property owner's responsibility.
16. Do customers need to be present
when the service is performed?
No, unless needed to unlock a gate or control pets.
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17. Why can't I have my own tree
pruning service do the job rather than Idaho Power?
Most people would not hire another party to prune the tree and
clear the lines. There are many government requirements that pruners must follow
when working near power lines. For example, OSHA (the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration) has a requirement that states you cannot work within
10 feet of a power line.
18. Do you paint or repair cuts
made from pruning?
No. Painting or repairing cuts has been found to be ineffective
for slowing growth or preventing disease.
19. Can mulch or chips from the
pruning be left with owner?
Yes, however, the chips are not sterilized and may include thorns,
branches and pesticides from customers spraying their trees.
20. Can the time of year for
line clearing be changed?
No. The tree service works in cycles – it is inefficient
and costly to move out of the cycles. With proper pruning, time of year will
not affect the health of the tree.
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21. How often are you going to
prune my tree?
About every three years.
22. Do you clear branches away
from telecommunication and cable TV lines?
No. It is the responsibility of the phone and cable utilities to prune trees
or vegetation around their lines.
23. Why are you asking my permission
to prune?
Technically, we are performing a notification of work to be
performed. We do this as a courtesy to you, our customer. We have easements
to the property, which gives us access to maintain our lines.
24. What happens if I refuse
the company access to my tree?
Idaho Power is obligated to keep lines clear to provide power
to the community and our customers. We can, as a last resort, pursue legal means.
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25. If you prune and my tree
dies, what happens?
If it can be proven by the customer the tree pruning procedures
killed the tree, Idaho Power would cut it to a stump and pay the customer a
nominal amount -- currently $50 per tree.
26. Why don't you relocate your
overhead lines to underground?
The cost to install underground lines is $5,000 to $10,000 per
homeowner.
Underground cable life is typically less than 20 years. Any time a cable fails, Idaho Power would have to dig down and repair the faulted line. In addition, relocating overhead lines to underground cable often destroys a tree's root system.