It’s Time to Tree Trim

By Ashley Quadros

Every year, Truckee Donner Public Utility District (TDPUD) works to trim trees that pose a potential danger to the community—such as trees growing into power lines or trees at risk of falling—spending nearly $2.5 million since 2008 on tree trimming and removal. The TDPUD operates 134 miles of overhead power lines and maintains trees around these lines by following a tree trimming cycle. They do this, as mandated by the California Department of Forestry, to reduce the risk of trees encountering power lines, which could spark a fire or power outage.

However, it is important to understand that they do not maintain all trees in the region. When it comes to potentially hazardous trees on a homeowner’s property and trees near or in the overhead power lines connected to your home or business, the TDPUD reminds everyone these trees fall solely on the responsibility of the owner to care for, maintain and trim. TDPUD recommends that each owner hire their own professional tree trimming service when managing trees near or in power lines connected to your property.

As part of the 2017 utility tree trimming program that operates May through the fall of every year, TDPUD will de-energize any power line connected to your home at no charge to you, so you or your tree trimming service may perform necessary tree maintenance in a community effort to eliminate the risk of fire and power outages stemming from hazardous trees.

“This is part of the outreach we do annually, but given the significant storm damage this winter and the impacts to electric system reliability, not to mention the public’s home safety, it is particularly important this year,” explained Steven Poncelet, public information and strategic affairs manager.

Ensuring everyone’s safety is a top priority, so please do your part to ensure your trees pose no potential danger to your home or business, and to those around you. Potential hazardous trees may also be reported to TDPUD. Additionally, the Tahoe Donner forestry department will be inspecting properties for forest health issues as soon as the snow melts to help accelerate the process of removing hazards. Forest health issues include dead trees, storm damaged trees, and an overabundance of pine debris on the forest floor.

To learn more about the Utility Tree Trimming Program or for questions regarding tree trimming and safety, visit tdpud.org or call 530-587-3896.