BGE Safety Tips: Trees and Powerlines

Storm season is here in Central Maryland. Vegetation is responsible for 42 percent of customer outages during significant storms that have hit the BGE service territory in recent years. Downed trees, tree limbs and other vegetation debris remain a threat to reliability.

BGE's routine and targeted tree trimming across the overhead electric system helps prevent service interruptions, and our customers can help as well. But please keep safety in mind!

Here are some tips for safely trimming trees as the summer storms ramp up:

• Do not climb or trim trees that are located near power lines.
• Always keep children away from trees that are near power lines.

• Hire a qualified licensed contractor to trim trees and remove weak and vulnerable branches.

• Always keep children away from trees that are near power lines.

Post-storm, as you clear your yard from this debris, use these safety tips:

• If you see a broken tree limb lying on a power line or likely to fall on a power line, do not touch it. Please report it by calling 1-800-685-0123.
• Always try to avoid tree limbs near power lines and do not make contact with the tree. If possible, also notify neighbors to stay clear.

• Stay a minimum of 10 feet from overhead energized lines and 35 feet from downed power lines.
• If a tree or tree limb falls from your yard onto overhead electric equipment and BGE crews remove it, you are responsible for the disposition of the leftover debris in your yard.

To avoid future electrical hazards, plant the right tree in the right place :

• Ensure you know the mature height of the tree species you want to plant.
• Never plant a tree that could grow to 25 feet or more near a power line.
• Tall growing trees should be planted at least 20 feet away from power lines and 50 feet away to avoid future pruning.

To learn how BGE manages vegetation removal for trees that pose risks to equipment and system reliability, visit BGENow.com and bge.com.