Trees and Safety

Contact Us First

Please contact Duke Energy before pruning or removing trees near power lines, as it is a very hazardous task. Duke Energy hires line clearance certified tree care professionals who are specially trained to complete tree work near power lines while following strict OSHA standards that detail how close they can be to power lines based on the voltage. If there is a concern with vegetation near a power line, please notify Duke Energy and a representative will inspect the location and provide options to the customer. 

Service Drops

The wires that supply power to a home or structure from the utility pole are called service drops. Duke Energy performs minimal pruning around service drops to remove weight-bearing limbs from the wires. Before pruning or removing a tree close to a service drop, customers can request for a qualified Duke Energy service technician to disconnect the drop so that the customer (or a professional tree service) can complete the work safely. Once the work is completed, the technician will reconnect the service drop at no charge to the customer. 

Downed Power Lines

Do not approach a downed power line or object near a downed power line, such as trees, tree limbs or vehicles. Report all power line hazards immediately to Duke Energy or local emergency services.

Call Before You Dig

When planning to complete work that involves digging or excavation, you must call before you dig. This includes all digging from small jobs like planting a tree to large scale excavations. Underground utility lines are frequently damaged because digging began without knowledge of underground utility lines. This leads to service disruptions, costly repairs, serious injuries and, in some instances, fatalities.

State law requires anyone who is planning on digging to call 811 at least 48 hours (excluding weekends and legal holidays) prior to digging. For more information and tips before you plant, learn more with Right Tree, Right Place.