Research-based planning guide
Tree removal near utility lines: who to contact before work
If a tree is near power lines, contact the electric utility and a suitably qualified tree professional before arranging removal. Don't trim branches, move a ladder or bring equipment toward the lines yourself. A branch touching a wire can create danger well beyond the point you can see.
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For a fallen wire or an immediate hazard, stay away and use the utility's emergency reporting process or emergency services. Don't wait for a routine estimate response.
Identify the utility before requesting the work
Service territories differ across Central Indiana. Check your bill for the utility responsible for the address. Tell it whether the tree is near a pole-to-pole line or the service connection to the building, without approaching either to investigate.
AES Indiana's property-tree guidance explains its process for coordinating work near service lines. That process shouldn't be assumed to apply to another utility or every type of line.
Give the arborist a safe site description
| Include | How to provide it safely |
|---|---|
| Property address | Confirms utility and service area |
| Tree location | Describe it from a safe viewing point |
| Visible line proximity | Use a wide photo without moving closer |
| Access limits | Gates, fences, driveway and nearby structures |
| Utility response | Share instructions or a reference number if provided |
Don't estimate that a branch is “far enough away” and treat it as clearance approval. Duke Energy's tree-worker guidance distinguishes qualified line-clearance work from ordinary tree work.
Make coordination part of the quote
Ask who contacts the utility, whether work must wait for disconnection or other measures, and what happens if the utility changes the plan. Confirm whether the tree contractor has the qualifications for the proposed work.
Clarify cleanup too. Utility work and private tree removal may cover different tasks. Don't assume the party making a line safe also removes every branch or stump from your property.
Keep underground services in the plan
Stump grinding, equipment access and digging introduce separate questions about buried utilities and private lines. Have the contractor explain the applicable locating process before ground disturbance. Overhead coordination doesn't resolve underground risks.
Read the tree-service hiring checklist and emergency tree checklist. For planned work, request an estimate and state that utilities are nearby. Site assessment and utility coordination must precede a confirmed work plan.