When to trim your trees
Nobody wants to be the cause of a power outage, especially an unnecessary one that is avoidable and can affect your neighbours and the local community.
If a tree, hedge or shelter belt is not maintained as per the requirements of regulations, it can cause serious issues if it comes into contact with the electricity network.
It is your responsibility to make sure that your competencies and related certificates are current and submitted for renewal before they expire. Network access requests with expired competencies will be refused.
It is your responsibility to make sure that your competencies and related certificates are current and submitted for renewal before they expire. Network access requests with expired competencies will be refused.
We’re here to help. Get in touch if you need help. Or, check out our FAQs.
The zones
Please don’t wait to be reminded that your trees need to be cut. Be proactive, regularly inspect your trees and if they are in either the Notice Zone or the Growth Limit Zone they must be trimmed safely. Call us on 0800 30 90 80 for a free inspection and a quote from our utility arborists.
Cut / trim notice
Notes:
- These distances are from the power line, not the power pole.
- These distances are a minimum and apply in all conditions, including high wind or snow.
- In most instances, the power lines that go to a house or building are low voltage power lines.
- Power lines that go down a street may be low or high voltage.
If your tree is growing within the Notice Zone (Tree A) it must be trimmed soon because it is growing too close to power lines and equipment.If your
tree continues to grow into the Growth Limit Zone (Tree B) you will receive a legal notice from us requiring the tree to be trimmed (by a qualified contractor) within a specified time frame.
The notice zones vary depending on the voltage of the power lines.
Fall hazard zone
The closest a tree can be located is calculated as the height of tree plus four metres.
Cutting trees near live lines
Due to the risk of danger, cutting trees near live power lines is a very specialised job. MainPower has its own team of experienced and qualified utility arborists. Click here to find out more about MainPower’s tree services and book a free tree trimming inspection.
Resources
For a copy of the information above, download the fact sheet below:
- MainPower Trees and Vegetation Fact Sheet
We’re here to help
If you need some assistance or advice, please get in touch with our team.
