About every three years, PGE’s contract tree crews will visit your area to prune trees along power line right-of-ways. This usually affects trees growing in parking strips below power lines.

During storms, trees cause the majority of power outages in our area. That’s why the Oregon Public Utility Commission created regulations that require us to do this pruning work, which helps prevent outages and maintain a high level of power reliability.

We follow precise standards and practices in maintaining trees. Our experienced contract crews are directed by PGE foresters who have extensive education and training in both urban forestry and electrical safety.

Which trees will PGE prune?
As we rotate through our service territory, our foresters examine trees block-by-block looking for trouble spots. We look for branches that are close to power lines as well as branches that could fall during a storm and hit a line. We also search for diseased or dying trees.

Our crews will work on any trees that pose a possible threat to power lines. Usually, these are trees that are planted directly below the lines in a parking strip and have grown too tall. But we sometimes will prune the branches from an off right-of-way tree if it is getting too close to the power line. The general rule of thumb is eight to 10 feet of clearance.

How we prune
PGE’s top priorities are to ensure safe, reliable power while also guarding the health of the tree. That’s why we won’t just top a tree. If, for example, the branches of a large elm or oak completely surround the power lines, we often prune out a u-section in the middle of the tree to provide plenty of clearance for the lines. This is actually much healthier for a tree than topping it.

How our crews are trained
Our tree crews are highly trained and must meet a stringent certification process. They undergo a two-year apprenticeship during which they study tree biology and tree pathology, as well as how to work safely around power lines. Each year they safely prune thousands of trees, preserving the health of the trees while also helping ensure power reliability.

Tree work schedules and notification
You can expect to see PGE tree crews in your neighborhood about every three years. We will send you a notification letter in advance. Or, you can e-mail us if you would like to know when we’re planning on working in your area.