In order to adhere to both federal and state requirements, utilities must remove vegetation growing near power lines. A regular maintenance plan for power lines can help prevent outages caused by trees and branches.
Liberty reminds customers never to trim trees near power lines. If you need assistance, call Liberty at 1-800-206-2300 (Electric & Water) 1-800-424-0427 (Gas). All vegetation inquiries are handled through our contact center to monitor customer inquiries and responses.
Liberty is responsible for maintaining the lines between poles. If you believe that tree limbs, broken branches, or other hazards may cause issues on lines between poles, please contact us so Vegetation Management personnel can inspect and assess the situation.
This is called a service line. It delivers the electricity from our lines directly to your meter. Maintenance of this line is the homeowner’s responsibility.
If you have trees that need to be trimmed near your service line, Liberty will disconnect the service line free of charge to allow for safe tree work for you or your contractor. Please call 1-800-206-2300 (Electric & Water) 1-800-424-0427 (Gas) to request this service at least 48 hours in advance of tree work. This advance notice will allow us to schedule a crew to drop the service. We request that you, or your tree contractor, be present when your service is disconnected.
If you would like to remove a tree within 10 feet of a pole to pole line, please contact us at 1-800-206-2300 (Electric & Water) 1-800-424-0427 (Gas) to have it inspected at no charge by a Vegetation Management representative. They can inspect the line and determine if the tree needs removed or trimmed so you or your contractor can begin the process safely. The homeowner is responsible for the debris removal.
Liberty will chip and remove limbs from routine line clearance work. Logs will be cut into manageable lengths and stacked on the property unless property owner contacts Liberty prior to the trimming to request removal of the logs. The property owner is responsible for materials they request to have left on their property.
Liberty does not clean up brush, limbs, or trees from storm related work. Our priority is power restoration to our customers. We will clear all fallen trees and limbs from our lines in a safe manner to restore service and prevent recurring outages. All logs and limbs are left on site, and crews will not return to remove them.
Liberty utilizes several contractors for both vegetation management surveying and tree trimming. Our contractors are recognized as professional companies who utilize approved arboricultural standards.
Liberty Utilities employs the following contractors:
Tree Trimming Services: Heavy Equipment Contractors:
Once a contractor has surveyed your property and determined that you do have trees that need to be trimmed for the betterment of the system, a door card will be left at your residence outlining the work that needs to be completed. A phone number for a forester will also be provided in case of questions.
In many instances, Liberty contractors will utilize conventional trimming techniques through the use of chain saws. Other times contractors will mechanically clear an area.
In addition to trimming, Liberty contractors utilize a variety of herbicides to control vegetation growth. All herbicides have met rigorous testing standards by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and are very effective tools when used according to label directions. Herbicides are the preferred method of control because they prevent re-sprouting, thereby reducing the need for repetitive cutting; and through selected application to undesirable plant species, we can promote bio-diversity to benefit wild life. Herbicides are also safe to use around domesticated animals.
Liberty’s Vegetation Management department also uses Tree Growth Regulators (TGR) on selected trees. The use of TGR allows us to reduce the frequency of trimming away from our power lines. We apply the TGR into the soil at the tree’s base. During the growing season, the compound is absorbed by the tree’s roots and travels into the entire tree. This specially designed compound limits growth in the crown of the tree, resulting in a more stable and balanced tree. Plus, over time trees appear revived and healthier when compared with surrounding trees of the same species.
TGRs have no adverse effect on critical processes that naturally occur in trees, and treated trees require no special care. TGRs have met the rigorous standards set by the EPA. They pose no unreasonable effects to humans, animals, or the environment. Plus, TGRs do not accumulate in fruit or nuts so there is not a risk to wildlife. TGRs may temporarily limit growth on grass or shrubs against the base of the tree, but cause no damage to those plants. Other tree byproducts, leaves, wood, or chips, are safe to use as the compound breaks down into harmless elements.
The use of TGR is a service we provide as part of normal maintenance and at no charge to the property owner.