Redmond Summit Tree Service trims trees near the overhead lines around Redmond homes, coordinating with Puget Sound Energy so the work is done safely and legally. Trees and power lines are a bad combination in a windstorm: branches on lines cause most outages here, and a falling limb can bring a live service line down into your yard.
Who’s Responsible for What
| Line | Typically maintained by | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Primary distribution lines on poles (high voltage) | Puget Sound Energy | Report concerns to PSE; they trim on a cycle |
| Service drop from the pole to your house | Homeowner keeps it clear | Call PSE first; a qualified contractor trims after it’s safe |
| Phone and cable lines | Telecom provider / homeowner | Lower risk, but still not a ladder job |
| Lines in the street planting strip | PSE / City of Redmond | Report it; don’t trim |
PSE customer service: 1-888-225-5773. If a line is down, sparking or on fire, stay at least 35 feet away and call 911.
Why Not DIY
- Electricity can arc across a gap to a pole saw, a wet branch or a ladder without anyone touching the wire.
- Branches under tension can spring into the line when cut.
- Washington and federal safety rules set minimum approach distances to energized lines that only qualified line-clearance arborists may work inside.
How We Handle Power Line Jobs
- Look first: which line, what voltage, how close the branches are, and whether the tree itself is sound.
- Coordinate with PSE: report hazards and, where needed, arrange a temporary disconnect of your service line.
- Trim for clearance: directional pruning that guides growth away from the line instead of stubbing branches that regrow straight back.
- Consider the long term: a fast-growing tree under a line will always be a problem. Sometimes replacing it with a low-growing species is the better answer.
Trees That Cause the Most Line Trouble in Redmond
- Bigleaf maples and red alders: fast growth, brittle limbs.
- Douglas firs next to service lines: long limbs that sway into the wire in wind.
- Laurel and Leyland cypress hedges grown up into the service drop.
- Cottonwoods along creeks and the Sammamish Valley: fast-growing and weak-wooded.
For general pruning away from lines, see tree trimming.
Related Services in Redmond
Questions We Hear
Who trims trees near power lines in Redmond, me or PSE?
Puget Sound Energy maintains clearance around its primary distribution lines on poles. The service line running from the pole to your house is generally the homeowner's responsibility to keep clear. Contact PSE before any work near lines. They can advise on clearance and arrange a temporary disconnect of your service line when needed.
Can I trim branches near the line from my house myself?
No. Don't use ladders, pole saws or ropes near any overhead line. Electricity can arc to tools and branches without direct contact. Only qualified line-clearance workers may work within the minimum approach distances to energized lines.
A branch is resting on the wire. Is that an emergency?
If it's sparking, burning, or the wire is down or sagging badly, yes: stay 35 feet away and call PSE at 1-888-225-5773, or 911 if there's fire. A branch resting on a service line should be reported to PSE so they can make it safe before tree work happens.