During the maintenance cycle, KUB only removes trees in the safety maintenance zone maintenance zone that are dead, unhealthy, or unsound and pose a risk to electric safety and reliability.  If a customer and KUB agree to remove the tree, KUB’s standard agreement calls for cutting the tree and removing the brush. Due to cost, KUB does not remove stumps, sawdust, or wood, but will cut the trunk into 18-inch lengths for you.

During emergency response when KUB removes a tree threatening the lines, KUB is not able to offer clean up or cutting the trunk into lengths.

If a significant tree has to be removed to keep power lines safe, KUB may be able to offer customers a replacement tree. Customers can see the trees KUB offers as replacements in our Tree Planting Program brochure. KUB will plant the tree in a customer's yard in a mutually agreed on location that will not interfere with overhead or underground utilities.

If a customer is offered a replacement tree and does not want it placed in their yard, they may donate the tree for KUB to plant in a community planting somewhere in KUB's service area.

As part of KUB's efforts to help beautify the community, KUB has an active community tree-planting program. KUB also partners with Habitat for Humanity to plant a tree at each new Habitat house in its service area.

Perhaps a tree is in good health but will require extensive pruning to meet the standard clearance requirements. Depending on the branching structure of the tree and the tree’s proximity to electric lines, KUB may use subordinate pruning as a temporary measure to remove a branch over more than one pruning cycle rather than all at once. Subordinate pruning is consistent with industry best pruning practices.

This is more often an option for trees that have not been pruned before, rather than trees with regrowth from a previous pruning. KUB crews will make proper lateral pruning cuts to achieve standard clearance in three to four years during the next pruning cycle scheduled in the area, or sooner if the tree’s branches grow to endanger electric lines again before then.

KUB encourages customers to plant only low-growing trees near power lines. If a tall, but slow-growing tree already exists beside lines, KUB foresters will evaluate the species, branching structure, and proximity of the tree to lines to determine if KUB can make an exception to the standard required clearance.

Customers can elect to hire, at their expense, a private tree service to prune their trees. Remember: Working around power lines is extremely dangerous and should only be done by someone specially trained and qualified for that type of work.

The contractor must prune to meet KUB's minimum clearance requirements. KUB crews prune to maintain a minimum 10-foot clearance around distribution lines and a minimum 25-foot clearance from high-voltage transmission lines. All limbs above the lines and maintenance zone are removed. Crews will also remove trees, brush, or vines around utility poles and guy wires.

If a customer's tree will require extensive pruning and they believe they will be unhappy with the result, customers may choose to pay to have the power lines relocated or moved underground. Those are expensive options, however, that may not be right for everyone.