Tree Talk: LIPA's Tree Trimming Program

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) is dedicated to providing Long Island with a safe, reliable supply of electricity. To do this, we have a number of proactive programs that help reduce electric outages and improve safety. One of our most effective programs in this area is our Forestry Program, which features line clearance (trimming tree branches away from electric wires) and planting smaller, “wire-friendly” trees near electric wires.

Overview | Tree Planning | Proper Planting | Wire-Friendly Trees | Asian Longhorned Beetle

What is Line Clearance?
Trees that interfere with electric wires can cause serious problems. They are the number one cause of power outages ­ particularly in storms ­ and can cause surges, fires, injury to people, and damage to property. Serious injury or death can result from children or adults climbing trees and coming in contact with electric wires. LIPA’s Line Clearance Program trims tree branches away from electric wires, helps ensure public safety, minimizes electrical interruptions and outages, and limits damage from severe storms. It also provides a zone of safety in which line workers can do their jobs.

LIPA’s Tree Management Professionals
LIPA hires professional crews who follow standards developed and approved by arboricultural societies and national safety agencies to perform line clearance work. These methods may result in trees having unnatural appearances, but they also preserve the health of the trees and keep tree branches safely away from electric wires.Tree Trimming

Will LIPA trim all trees?
No, LIPA only clears tree limbs that threaten our electric wires. It is important to be able to distinguish between LIPA’s wires and telephone or cable TV (CATV) wires.  If you should ever come across a downed wire, call the police and LIPA immediately. Do not attempt to determine if it is an electric, telephone, or CATV wire. For safety’s sake, assume that it is a live electric wire. NEVER touch or try to move these wires yourself.

What is “Directional” Pruning?
When we trim a tree near your home or business, the technique most commonly used is one called “directional trimming.”

Directional trimming strives to train the tree to grow away from and around the wires. These trimming practices were developed by the U.S. Forest Service and are endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture as well as tree care professionals across the country.

Initially, your trees will look different following directional trimming, but this practice provides the best opportunity for the tree to stay healthy.

Who will remove the debris?
We will remove the debris that results from our regularly scheduled line clearance program. However, when responding to emergencies or customer requested work the debris is the responsibility of the tree owner.

Line Clearance One Circuit at a Time
Our Line Clearance Program focuses on trimming trees along an entire electrical circuit, which can be several miles long. Circuits that experience the most outages are handled first. This is our most effective way of reducing outages to a majority of customers. Line clearance work is performed all year long.

Individual Requests
LIPA’s response to individual line clearance requests is limited to EMERGENCIES ONLY. For example call us right away at (800) 490-0075 if a broken tree limb is actually leaning heavily on a LIPA wire or has caused a wire to come down.

Overview | Tree Planning | Proper Planting | Wire-Friendly Trees | Asian Longhorned Beetle

Last Updated: 10/02/2009