The rule that comes before every other rule
Georgia Power's vegetation FAQ explains that, under certain conditions, trees and tree limbs can conduct power if they contact power lines. Its guidance is that no one should climb trees in the vicinity of power lines, because serious injury or death may result from contact with, or coming too close to, an energized line. If you see a fallen tree in contact with a line, the utility says to contact it immediately.
That is why this page comes before any discussion of cost or scheduling. A tree that touches, overhangs or could fall on a line is a utility matter first. Many homes around Ball Ground, Canton and Waleska are served by Georgia Power, and others by electric cooperatives; whichever name is on your bill, call that utility before you call anyone to cut.
How utility pruning works
Georgia Power says it prunes trees away from its lines on a planned cycle to reduce outages caused by downed trees and limbs, and that when pruning it completes the entire line and does not schedule individual pruning requests. The company says crews try to notify property owners in person before work, and leave a door hanger with the projected date and a contact number if no one is home.
The utility describes its method as pruning lateral branches and using directional trimming to remove limbs at strong branches or the trunk, at their natural shedding points, which it says protects the tree's natural defenses against decay and reduces regrowth. It says it prunes to standards developed by the American National Standards Institute and the International Society of Arboriculture, and that tree work on its behalf is done by professional tree contractors.
Downed lines after storms
If trees or limbs fall and tear down lines, Georgia Power says those lines may still be energized in the air or on the ground. Always assume a downed line is energized, stay away, never touch or drive over it, and report it immediately. Keep children and pets indoors until the utility has made the area safe.
After a storm, the utility says its priority is restoring power, and it will cut away fallen trees that are interfering with its lines so service can be restored. Debris cleanup after storm events is the property owner's responsibility. That is the point where a private provider usually comes in; see storm damage tree removal.
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Free Quote RequestWhat a private tree provider can and cannot do near lines
A private provider can usually prune or remove the parts of a tree that are well away from energized lines, and much of the work around homes falls into that category: limbs over roofs, decks and driveways, trees between houses, and dead trees in the back of a lot. The work that runs close to lines is specialized line-clearance work, and Georgia Power's own pruning is done by professional contractors working on its behalf.
Ask any provider directly how close their work will come to lines and whether they will coordinate with the utility. If the honest answer is that a limb sits on or near a line, the next call is to the utility. For general pruning practice, including where cuts should go, see tree trimming and pruning.
Service drops, stumps and buried lines
Overhead lines are not the only lines near trees. Removing a tree often means grinding a stump, and Georgia's Utility Facility Protection Act states that stump removal is considered excavation. Underground electric service, gas lines and communications cables frequently run near trees in older yards. A locate request through Georgia 811 should come before mechanized stump work; see stump grinding in Ball Ground.
The law's definitions also cover working near overhead lines through a separate Overhead Protection Act, which Georgia 811 publishes alongside the underground rules. If a job involves equipment near overhead lines, ask your provider how they handle the notice requirements that apply to their work.
Planting the right tree in the right place
Georgia Power says that, generally, shrubs, gardens, grasses and trees with a mature height of less than fifteen feet are permitted on its transmission easement areas, as long as they do not restrict access or threaten safe operation of the line. It says it mows transmission easements typically once every six years and patrols all transmission lines once a year by air and ground to find vegetation that poses a threat.
For a yard near any line, that fifteen-foot guide is a useful starting point when choosing replacements. Think about the mature height and spread, not the size at planting. If you are replacing a tree that was removed because it grew into the lines, choose something that will never reach them. For removal options, see tree removal in Ball Ground.