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Tree Limbs Near Power Lines in El Dorado Hills

Need tree trimming near power lines in El Dorado Hills? Phone us now at (530) 255-2773. We'll help figure out whose job it is, then book a local tree trimming company for your share.

First, the safety rule. If a limb is on a wire in El Dorado Hills, or a wire is down, stay far back and call 911. Everything else about tree trimming in El Dorado Hills can wait for a phone call.

What the problem looks like in El Dorado Hills yards

Trees in El Dorado Hills grow toward the light, and wires often hang right in that light. A limb that was 6 feet off the line five years ago may be 1 foot off it now. Wind makes it worse. A branch that sways can touch a line it never touched before.

Look for these.

• A branch that brushes the wire leading from the pole to your home.
• A limb that overhangs the lines along the street.
• Leaves or branches that look burned or brown near a wire.
• A dead tree leaning toward the pole.

Know your wires in El Dorado Hills

PG&E, the power company in El Dorado Hills, says its neighborhood power lines, which it calls distribution lines, are mounted on top of wood poles. Below them are the phone, cable and internet lines. Those belong to each provider. The line from the pole to your house is a service drop.

That last one is yours to keep clear. The utility says property owners must keep service drop wires clear of trees and brush, and clear of dead or hazardous trees too.

Not sure whose line is whose? Call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000. If your power comes from another company, call that company instead.

What the power company trims and how close

The utility says its crews keep minimum clearances around distribution lines. In ordinary areas that is 18 inches. In High Fire-Threat Districts, it is 4 feet. They often cut well past the minimum, so the tree can't regrow into the wire before the next round.

You might get an email, a text, a call, a visit or a door hanger before the crew arrives. Trees that need work are usually marked with paint or ribbon. Crews often return a few months after they inspect.

The result can look lopsided. The utility says a tree trimmed on one side for lines doesn't suffer for it.

Branches thinner than 4 inches are chipped and carted away, or chopped up and left on the ground. Thicker wood is left where it falls, and the utility says that wood is the owner's.

What you should not do with tree trimming near wires

Don't do this one yourself. Power lines can badly hurt or kill, the utility warns, so only trained line-clearance workers should trim near them. Around the yard, you and your tools should stay 10 feet or more from every wire.

That 10 feet counts for a pole saw. It counts for a ladder. It counts for the branch you're holding when it falls.

What you can do in El Dorado Hills

• Report a hazard. The utility has a "Report It" program where you can send photos.
• Phone 811 two working days or more before any digging or planting. Crews mark buried lines free of charge.
• Ask the utility about a temporary shutoff. It's free through their Start/Stop Service page.
• Plant smaller trees away from wires. The utility calls this "right tree, right place."

If your limb is on your side of the line, say your own branches over the service drop, a pro with the right training can do it. Ask whether the pro does line work before you hire.

What tree trimming near power lines in El Dorado Hills costs

Limbs close to power lines are the priciest to get at, says Homeyou. Its range is $212 to $688, with tall trees, thick crowns and limbs over roofs and wires pushing toward the high end.

The utility says its crews trim or remove trees near its lines every year. The prices above are for the part that is your job, like the service drop wire to your house.

How to describe the problem when you call about El Dorado Hills tree trimming

When you call, a few details help a lot. Say whether the wires are at the top of the pole or lower down, and whether one runs to your house. Say how far the limb is from the wire, as best you can tell from the ground.

Do not walk under a wire to get a better look. Stay where you can see it from a distance.

Take a photo from far back, if it's safe. The utility lets customers send photos through its "Report It" program, and you get a notice when the issue is under review or fixed.

If you see sparks, a smell of burning, or a wire on the ground, skip the photo. Call 911.

After a storm, wait. Crews are busy, and a limb that touched a line once may do it again in the next gust. A small job can grow into a big one overnight.

Why El Dorado Hills tree trimming starts with a call

This job has rules. Which wire, whose job, what time of year. A phone call to us sorts that out faster than guessing. If it's the utility's work, we'll tell you who to call. If it's yours, we'll find the tree company.

Tree trimming in El Dorado Hills, step by step

1. Call us and describe the wire and the branch.
2. We tell you if it sounds like the utility's job or yours.
3. If it's yours, we set a visit with a local tree trimming company.
4. The company checks the clearance and quotes the work.
5. You decide.