Why Does Sioux Lookout Hydro Trim Trees?
Sioux Lookout Hydro maintains and removes trees along utility easements to prevent contact with power lines and to ensure public safety and provide a reliable electrical service.
Trees are a significant cause of power outages. Outages from trees are caused from branches rubbing on power lines, branches falling on power lines and trees falling across power lines during storms or due to heavy accumulation of snow or ice.
By trimming trees around power lines on a cyclical schedule to a minimum clearance, Sioux Lookout Hydro will eliminate predictable safety hazards and reduce tree related outages. The tree trimming cycle may vary depending on extent of storm damage, health of trees and vegetation type.
When trimming trees that are in contact with power lines you are putting yourself at risk. Momentary contact between the tree and energized power lines could be fatal to anyone who is in proximity of the tree. Trees and the ground around them may become energized when branches come into contact with the power lines.
Your Responsibilities
For properties that contain utility easements, we request that homeowners not plant trees or otherwise encroach on easements in a manner that will limit access or interfere with operation of the power lines.
Sioux Lookout Hydro has the responsibility to keep trees trimmed under their main corridors and within the municipal easements.
Homeowners are responsible for all the trimming and tree and brush removal for the property around private (secondary) overhead service lines that link their home or business to our primary service lines.
Due to the danger of overhead power lines, unqualified individuals should never attempt to cut down trees or trim branches close to, or touching any overhead lines. We strongly recommend that you hire a certified utility arborist or qualified electrical contractor to work under service lines.
To accommodate tree trimming under a service line, Sioux Lookout Hydro will provide a free service disconnect/reconnect.
Sioux Lookout Hydro will only remove trees under a service line when these trees could fall into the utilities main power line and create a hazard.
Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place
Homeowners can avoid service interruption, help reduce costs and maintain a pleasant environment by ensuring trees of the correct size and species are planted near power lines. Do not plant trees that will grow tall near power or communication lines. Choose only low growing compact species. Save tall trees for areas away from power lines.
When you are looking for landscaping options, remember to consider height and location. Look at the ‘mature’ height of the tree or shrub when considering a species for your landscaping near power lines.
Utilities' Access to Private Property
The 1998, Electricity Act of Ontario requires that Sioux Lookout Hydro maintain trees and brush to minimum clearances around its power lines. The Electricity Act grants access for Sioux Lookout Hydro to “enter and maintain any land for the purpose of cutting down or removing trees, branches or other obstructions“.
Easements are established at the municipal development planning stage that allows Sioux Lookout Hydro and other utilities to access and maintain equipment on private properties.
Clean up
When Sioux Lookout Hydro is conducting tree trimming or line clearing during regular maintenance, limbs, branches and other debris will normally be removed from the property.
In the event of a removal of a tree, larger pieces will be cut into manageable lengths and left for the homeowner’s use or disposal.
When trees and branches are cleared from power lines due to storm damage, crews will not clean up the debris but will leave it for disposal by the property owner.
To Ask a Question or Report a Danger Tree
To report a concern about trees and power lines, please call Sioux Lookout Hydro at 737-3800.
To request the temporary disconnection of a line from your private resident to the main corridor in order to conduct tree trimming on your private property, call 737-3800.