Who removes a tree on power lines?
The electric utility removes a tree on power lines, not you and not a tree service. Stay at least 10 ft away, treat every line as live even if the power is out, and call the utility's outage line or 911. The utility clears the line at no charge; you pay a tree service for the rest afterward.
One rule covers this page: a tree touching a power line is the utility's job, and until they have dealt with it, nobody goes near it. Not you, not your neighbor with a chainsaw, not a tree service. Electricity travels through wet wood, and a limb resting on a line can energize the whole tree and the ground around it. People die this way after every major storm, usually while trying to help.
| Situation | Who to call | Who removes it | Who pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tree on the main lines along the street or alley | Utility outage line | Utility line crew clears the line | Utility; nothing to you |
| Line down on the ground, in the road, or sparking | 911, then utility | Utility, after police secure the area | Utility |
| Line down on a car or a person | 911 | Utility de-energizes; fire department assists | Utility |
| Tree on the service drop to your house, wire intact | Utility | Utility drops the line and reconnects | Utility |
| Tree ripped the mast or meter off the house | Utility, then an electrician | Electrician repairs the mast; utility reconnects | You (insurance may cover it) |
| Rest of the tree after the line is cleared | Tree service | Tree service | You; $200–$500 for a fallen medium tree, or 1.5×–2× if on a structure |
Is a downed power line dangerous if the power is out?
Yes. Treat every line as live, no matter what the outage map or your dark kitchen says. Lines are re-energized remotely as crews restore sections of the grid, automatic reclosers retry a faulted line several times, and a neighbor's generator without a transfer switch can back-feed a dead line. A downed line does not always spark or hum; one lying quietly in wet grass can carry full voltage. Stay at least 10 ft away, 35 ft if the line is arcing or sparking, and assume the ground around it is energized too. Keep children and pets inside. Do not touch anything the tree or line is touching, including a metal fence, a gutter, or a puddle.
Who do I call for a tree on power lines?
The electric utility, first and always. The outage number is on your bill and the utility's website; save it in your phone before storm season. Call 911 instead when a line is down in a street, on a vehicle, on a person, or when anything is smoking or on fire. Do not call a tree service first. No legitimate company will touch a tree on or within 10 ft of a line until the utility has de-energized it or cut it clear, and a company that says otherwise is one you do not want. The only exception is a line-clearance contractor working for the utility, who arrives through the utility, not through you. The same rule applies to routine trimming; see who trims trees near power lines?
Does the utility remove the whole tree?
No, and this surprises people. Line crews are there to restore power. They cut away exactly what is needed to free the line, drop the sections on the ground, repair the wire, and move on to the next outage. The trunk, the crown, the pile in your yard, and the stump are all yours. Once the utility confirms the line is clear, hire a tree service, or handle it yourself only if the rest of the tree is more than 10 ft from any wire and you are comfortable with a chainsaw on a normal day; see can I remove a tree myself or should I hire a pro? On open ground it is ordinary fallen-tree cleanup, often $200–$500 for a medium tree, and it can wait 1–2 weeks for normal prices. If part of the tree is still on the house, you are in emergency territory, roughly 1.5×–2× the normal price; the sequence is on a tree fell on my house, what do I do first? and the pricing on how much does emergency tree removal cost?
What if the line down is the one running to my house?
That wire is the service drop, and the ownership line runs through it. The utility owns the wire from the pole to where it attaches to your house. The homeowner usually owns everything on the house: the mast (the pipe through the roof), the weatherhead, the meter base, and the wiring into the panel. If a tree pulled the drop off the house but the mast is intact, call the utility; they will de-energize, reattach, and reconnect at no charge. If the tree tore the mast off the wall, the utility will not reconnect until a licensed electrician repairs it, and that repair is yours, though it is usually covered under dwelling coverage. Still call the utility first so the drop is made safe. In a major storm, response ranges from hours to several days, so ask for a ticket number.
What do I do if a line falls on my car with me in it?
Stay in the car and call 911. The car body carries the current around you; the danger is stepping out, because you would touch the energized car and the ground at the same moment. Tell anyone outside to stay back at least 10 ft and not touch the car. Wait for the utility to confirm the line is dead. The only reason to leave is fire. If you must, jump clear with both feet together so you land touching nothing else, then shuffle away in small steps without lifting your feet. Never help someone out of a car in contact with a line; call 911 and keep them inside.
No independently confirmed professional review is on file yet.
Not yet independently reviewed. This page is general safety information, not a substitute for instructions from your utility or emergency services. When in doubt, call 911.