BREC regularly inspects, maintains and clears trees and vegetation along our power lines and right-of-way areas. We do this on a continual basis, with contracted teams. However, our linemen, when repairing an outage, may have to cut vegetation to clear the line.

No vegetation taller than 5-feet inside the cooperative’s 30-foot right-of-way.

Fruit trees, crepe myrtles and dogwoods that have grown taller than 8-ft will be cut down to 5-ft. All other trees will be removed at ground level.

Trees and Shrubs in the right-of-way

• If you find an orange ribbon on a tree in our right-of-way, it will be cut completely to the ground.
• Smaller trees and shrubs in the right-of-way will be cut using the above drawing as a reference.

Clearing Trimmings

• Cut limbs on your property will be removed by a cutting crew, who will chip up limbs up to 12 inches. Limbs over 12 inches will be left for the property owner as firewood.
• Clearing crews often work several days behind the cutting teams. This process is mostly done by hand, and may take several days for crews to reach a prior cut area to clear debris. Be advised the teams are contracted to perform both steps of this system. The clean up crew WILL dispose of cut limbs and brush. Please be patient.

When Planting Trees

• No trees should be planted within utility right-of-ways. They are a safety hazard and increase the chances of an electrical outage.
• The right-of-way zone is 15-feet on either side of a utility pole. Trees should be planted outside of this zone. Tree limbs should be planted outside of this zone. Tree limbs should not be within 20-feet of a power line.
• Trees planted within a short distance of utility poles, power lines and right-of-way areas should be planted based on their maximum height at maturity. For example, a tree that will grow to be 80 feet tall should be planted 80-feet from the areas listed.
• Call 811 before you plant your trees, to ensure you know where the underground utility lines are located.