Trees are beautiful and important to our environment. But trees growing near or into power lines are a danger and may cause power outages.

When a tree comes in contact with a power line, it gives electrical current a path to the ground. That makes it a potential electrocution hazard to crews restoring service and to the public.

KUB prides itself in providing safe, reliable power. The Vegetation Management Program seeks to prevent problems through ongoing maintenance. It takes three to four years to inspect and prune KUB's 5,000-plus miles of lines before the process starts over again.

KUB prunes for safety and reliability, but pruning is not always a popular or attractive solution. The goal is to be as respectful of customer trees as possible.

Customers sometimes inquire about the option to move overhead power lines underground. Unfortunately, the cost to move all lines underground is prohibitive (approximately $1 million per mile). With KUB being not-for-profit, this cost would drive electric bills up considerably.

Utility Maintenance Zone

Crews check to see if trees, brush, or vines are growing within the standard safety maintenance zones.

KUB prunes to maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet around distribution lines. 

KUB may also remove trees, brush, and vines within the twenty-foot maintenance zone.

KUB removes all limbs above and within 25 feet of high voltage transmission lines because of their critical importance in delivering power to large numbers of customers.

KUB has the legal right to enter properties to work on and around power lines within a reasonable area.

Pruning Techniques

All crews use the lateral pruning method recommended by arborists, the Arbor Day Foundation, and other tree-care organizations. Please see pruning examples here.

KUB only prunes trees in the utility maintenance zone and that are threatening power lines. KUB does not prune trees interfering with the individual service lines connected to homes.

If there is a tree threatening a homeowner's service line, they can call KUB to lower the line temporarily so a professional tree service can safely prune the tree. KUB will reconnect the line when the work is done.