Trees are one of the primary causes of power outages, whether they cause minor "bumps" or fluctuations when limbs brush against power lines or cause major extended outages when huge branches and trees pull lines down in bad weather. With careful cutting of selected limbs and trees, our contracted, licensed line clearance experts trim away the potential dangers that trees can represent. This process will strive to meet the needs of our customers with a proactive line clearance maintenance program committed to the highest standards of safety and environmental stewardship.
We adhere to New England trimming standards, trimming a fairly large area around power lines to meet the demands of modern equipment. That's because the power lines that deliver today's stronger voltages are more sensitive to trees, wind and other external elements. As a rule, our tree care experts create ten feet of clearance alongside power lines, with fifteen feet of clearance above and all woody brush and small trees are removed from underneath the lines. By cutting and trimming to these clearances, this should keep your tree limbs away from our lines for about seven years. Our crews will likely return to re-trim trees in five to seven year cycles.
When trimming is complete, our crews remove branches and brush from your property and leave behind all substantial wood for your use (as required by law).
You can help us minimize tree-related outages and ensure the beauty of your landscape through thoughtful planting of new trees. Trees planted along your property's border should either be low growing shrubs or tall and narrow trees, planted at least 30 feet from power lines. Spreading trees, such as maples and oaks, are the most common outage-causing culprits and may need to be planted at least 50 feet away from power lines.
Before planting trees on your property, the location of utility lines should be considered. Are lines overhead or underground? Not only should spreading tree branches be a concern but also spreading tree roots. Never dig near underground utility lines.
For more information visit the Tree Care Industry Association at www.natlarb.com or www.mnpower.com/treebook.
Pursuant to Maine State Law Title 35-A Chapter 2522, Section 1 (Maine's Revised Statutes Annotated), at the customer's request, Bangor Hydro will personally consult with property owners before trimming trees. If you would like to be notified prior to our scheduled maintenance trimming, please call 1-800-499-6600 or 947-2414, or write to us at the address below:
Mark Lamberton, Line Clearance Department Bangor Hydro Electric Company P.O. Box 932 Bangor, ME 04402-0932
Include your name, street address, town, telephone number, and Bangor Hydro account number.
Please note: Emergency power-outage trimming is exempted from the required notice provisions of Title 35-A Chapter 2522, Section I.
