Trees and plants near power lines

Maintaining trees around power lines

We rely on our system of power lines to carry the electricity produced at our generating stations to homes and businesses across B.C. It’s important to manage trees and plants around these lines for the safety and reliability of our electrical system.

Trees and plants on your property

As a property owner, you’re responsible for keeping the service wires on your property clear of vegetation. Branches rubbing on service wires wear through the weather coating and may cause damage to home electrical appliances.

How we manage trees near our system

A major source of outages in B.C. are caused by trees or branches contacting power lines. We work throughout the year to maintain and monitor trees and plants near our infrastructure and facilities. Our team proactively identifies, removes or trims trees when they become hazardous or too close to the lines.

Staying safe around overhead lines

It's important to remember that you need to stay 3 to 6 metres away from power lines depending on their voltage. This includes yourself as well as any branches you might be pruning, the tools you're using, and your ladder.