Trees and power lines don't mix
Trees and vegetation making contact with overhead power lines are a leading cause of outages and flickers. Planting the right tree in the right place so it doesn’t grow near power lines can help reduce outages for you and your neighbors.
Download our "How keeping trees away from power lines improves your electric service" brochure for more smart landscaping tips and information on trimming trees and plants near power lines.
Here are five simple steps to smart landscaping:
1. Find the Right Tree – Trees come in all shapes and sizes, and often change dramatically over their lifetimes. Some grow tall, some grow wide and some have extensive root systems. Before selecting your tree, make sure you know how tall, wide and deep it will be at maturity. For lists of recommended trees for your region of Florida, please visit the University of Florida’s “Trees and Power Lines” website.
2. Choose the Right Spot – If you’re planting trees on your property, look up and note the location of power lines. Before you plant, keep in mind the setback dimensions in our diagram. Think about how your tree will impact existing utility lines as it grows taller, wider and deeper. Keeping trees away from power lines means that, in the event they blow over or tree limbs become loose, they’re much less likely to hit a power line and knock out power. This also keeps debris farther away from the lines to speed power restoration efforts.
3. Call Before You Dig – If you'll be performing work in your yard that involves digging, Florida law requires you call 811 before you begin so FPL and other utilities can show you where cables and pipes are. Call at least two business days before you begin to avoid unintentionally hitting underground utility lines. This free service helps keep everyone safe. You can also submit your request online at www.Sunshine811.com.
4. Keep transformers clear – Keep the transformer cabinet (green box often found in front of homes) clear at all times to allow for maintenance and repairs. Maintain a “clear zone” of 8 feet in the front and 5 feet in the back and on both sides.
- Do not install, fences, walls, hedges, decorative screenings or permanent structures in the clear zone.
- Some recommended practices include planting compact, low-growing or shallow-rooted plant varieties that do not have the potential to grow into the clear zone and/or installing gravel or decorative rock around the pad.
- Avoid planting trees or other deep-rooted vegetation, installing dense hedges, raised beds, hardscape and storage near the pad-mount transformer.
- Additionally, sprinkler heads should not be directed at pad-mount transformer door or vents. Irrigation should not cause standing water around the pad.
5. Stay safe around power lines – If you have trees and plants growing near power lines on your property, hire a qualified professional to perform trimming work. Do not take it upon yourself to perform any work near power lines. Whether you're planting a tree, preparing your property for storm season or picking fruit, remember to stay safe and stay far away from power lines at all times. Qualified line-clearing professionals can trim to minimize the risk of the trees, fronds or limbs falling into overhead power lines.
Always keep yourself and any object you are holding at least 10 feet from main and neighborhood power lines and 30 feet from higher voltage transmission lines. You can be seriously hurt or worse, should you or anything you are touching come into contact with a power line.
FPL Tree Facts
FPL operates about 50,000 miles of overhead power lines.
Trees and plants making contact with power lines are among the leading causes of outages.
Each year FPL maintains vegetation along approximately 17,000 miles of power lines throughout its service area.
FPL’s preventive maintenance plan calls for clearing main power lines every three years and neighborhood lines every six years, on average.
One of the most important things homeowners and businesses can do is follow FPL’s Right Tree/Right Place guidelines. By selecting the right tree and planting in the right place, you can help reduce power outages in your neighborhood.
To protect the health of trees, FPL follows the International Society of Arboriculture and American National Standard Institute pruning guidelines.