(a) With the landowner’s consent, utilities shall prune trees adjacent to all distribution circuits to the following minimum clearances on no more than a 5-year cycle:
- (1) Ten feet below the conductors;
- (2) Eight feet to the side of the nearest conductor; and
- (3) Fifteen feet above the conductors, at time of pruning.
- (b) Utilities shall implement measures such as mid-cycle reviews to identify and mitigate elevated risk from tree exposure on circuits or sections of circuits that are significantly or continually experiencing tree-related interruptions, where it is practical to do so.
(c) Utilities shall not be required to prune to the clearance standards specified in (a) of this section where:
- (1) The landowner has refused or restricted permission to prune;
- (2) A municipality or other local governing body, by ordinance or other official means, has refused or restricted permission to prune; or
- (3) Pruning to the standards specified in subpart (a) would be detrimental to the health of the tree, in which the utility shall adhere to the guidelines provided in ANSI A300 (Part 1) “Tree Care Operations – Tree, Shrub and Other Woody Plant Maintenance – Standard Practices” (2017), available as noted in Appendix B.
Source. #14101, eff 10-22-24, EXPIRES: 10-22-34 (see Revision Note at chapter heading for En 300)