Tree pruning by electric company - should I let them?

[aesmith]

Hi,

 

I have a guy from SSE coming to see me on Saturday to discuss cutting back one of our trees to increase clearance from their 11kV line. I have no problem in principle, but was wondering whether I should let them go ahead, or arrange the work myself. Do these power distribution guys normally do a decent job, with the work done by a proper tree surgeon or at least by someone who considers the affect on the tree?

 

Also, looking at it from another angle, how close to 11kV lines would an independent arborist be happy working?

 

I just wanted to get a bit of an opinion so I know how to play it when the guy comes round.

 

Thanks, Tony S

[Eddy_t]

The legislation allows a landowner to do the work and reclaim reasonable costs.

 

 

 

Getting the agreements in place for a line blockage would be a problem though.

 

 

Yeah, they probably get more back than we get paid too!

 

Also remember that if the tree is being dismantled, work can be carried out by an untrained (in utilities) arb if it's 9m or greater from 66kv or below, so the likelihood is the tree is in or has a high potential to breach the vicinity of the conductors.

 

As for shutdowns, they're a nightmare for us to get, let alone joe public!

 

 

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[openspaceman]

As for shutdowns, they're a nightmare for us to get, let alone joe public!

 

 

Yes I was getting my terminology wrong, rail=line blockage ua=shutdown, I do both occasionally but never get involved with the safe system of work.

 

In fact when I was in the situation of letting these other ua contractors across my worksite it wasn't that they objected to my doing the work but more that their payment system would not allow me payment and I could see I would have to take them to court to get the money.

[aesmith]

Thanks for all the comments, from what you all say I'm sure I'll be happy with what they propose. I might get the offending limbs taken back to the main stem rather than cut short as was done before.

 

There were a few interesting related points raised. I hope I've not quoted anyone out of context ..

 

Not really mate. If a 20m tree stands 18m away from the line, and it falls over (eg due to storm damage) then it takes out the power line!

I see that logic, but the clearance was being quoted as twice that, and only in the context of an arborist pruning the tree. The examples you give are the result of the tree simply being there, not the result of it being worked on. SSE are only saying they need 3m clearance, unless I misheard in which case I'll know more on Saturday.

 

The reality is we should never plant anything that becomes sizeable near a powerline. But it does create employment.

In a lot of cases the trees were there before the power line.

 

Also remember that if the tree is being dismantled, work can be carried out by an untrained (in utilities) arb if it's 9m or greater from 66kv or below, so the likelihood is the tree is in or has a high potential to breach the vicinity of the conductors.

That's not live 66kV I assume? Or are you allowed to fell closer than you can prune?

 

Thanks again, Tony S

[Eddy_t]

[quote name=aesmith;1102946

 

That's not live 66kV I assume? Or are you allowed to fell closer than you can prune?

 

 

 

Thanks again' date=' Tony S[/quote]

 

 

That is live working, you have to be further away to fell, eg, a tree 20m tall has to be 40.1m from the line, but a dismantle can be closer

 

 

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[aesmith]

That is live working, you have to be further away to fell, eg, a tree 20m tall has to be 40.1m from the line, but a dismantle can be closer

OK, that's my inexact terminology not being clear on the difference. But it seemed to be said earlier that this much clearance was needed for any pruning work as well, or did I just jump to that conclusion as we started off discussing pruning? Looking back he actually said "cut" so maybe I misunderstood.

[Goaty]

 

In a lot of cases the trees were there before the power line.

 

 

 

Agreed, but I was planting a woodland once with a group of lads I had gone to help under powerlines on pylons I said

" You cannot plant trees here"

"Why not"

etc....

 

We planted shrubs instead in that area. I wouldn't be suprised to go back their now and see Mighty oaks on their way up, because they just planted and didn't care what was what.

 

Hope the pruning goes well. We love to see before and after pictures if you would kindly oblige.

 

It either makes us feel happy, or we critically analyse

[Eddy_t]

Come off it goaty, it sounds like a side prune, it'll look poor in comparison to a proper reduction, we don't get paid extra for the rest of the tree, just clearance!

 

 

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[aesmith]

I'm afraid you're correct, it's just a farmyard Ash tree not a specimen of great beauty. All the same we're trying for more trees rather than fewer, so don't want to ill treat any of them.

[CJM]

I'm afraid you're correct, it's just a farmyard Ash tree not a specimen of great beauty. All the same we're trying for more trees rather than fewer, so don't want to ill treat any of them.

 

It sounds like an oldish ash tree i bet it's been pruned in the past and I'll also bet it'll be the re-growth that'll be taken off I'm also going to go on a limb (see what I did there haha) and say they won't even climb it they'll use insulated rods and a silky head to prune off the re-growth.

 

It's no biggy it's standard stuff they'll take less than an hour and be out your hair for the next 5 years (unless it fails)

[Marc Lewis]

The legislation allows a landowner to do the work and reclaim reasonable costs.

 

Getting the agreements in place for a line blockage would be a problem though.

 

Really, my understanding was that it is the land owners responsibility not to allow their vegetation to encroach on the dno's network. Though in reality the power line company's maintain the clearance of the trees free of charge. I may well be incorrect but thought that is how it is.