Skip to main content
Contact Us

OUTAGE REPORTING: 570-924-3418   
COOPERATIVE OFFICE: 570-924-3381

Home

Menu
  • About Us
    • About Sullivan County REC
    • Directors
  • Billing
    • Electric Service Rates - 2023
    • Billing Terms
    • Go Paperless!
  • Financial Assistance
    • Budget Billing
    • Helping Hand Fund
    • LIHEAP 2022-2023
    • PAHAF Utility Assistance
    • Rebates & Tax Credits
  • SCREC Center
    • Board Meeting Summary
    • Bylaws
    • Cooperative History
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Director Election
    • Member Policies
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Handbook
  • Member Services
    • Capital Credits
    • Contact Us
    • Contractor/Member References
      • Electrical Inspectors
      • Generlink
      • Spec Sheets
    • Co-op Connections
    • Co-op Owners for Political Action
    • Co-ops Vote
    • Kids Programs
    • Security Lighting
  • Energy Management
    • Electric Thermal Storage
    • Energy Savings
    • Member Owned Generation
    • Sources Of Generation
    • Useful Management Tools
  • Electrical Safety
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Quiz
  • Outages
    • Outage FAQs
    • Preparing For An Outage
    • Report An Outage
    • What To Do During An Outage
  • News & Events
    • 2022 Annual Meeting
    • Past Penn Lines
    • Penn Lines Ideas
  • Operations
    • Right-of-Way
    • Trees
  • Touchstone Energy
    • About Touchstone Energy
    • Touchstone Energy Savings

Trees

You are here

  1. Operations
  2. Trees

Thinking about adding trees to your landscaping? While trees can be very beneficial and add value to your property, they can be a hazard to you, your family, and the public if planted too close or beneath electric lines. Trees planted too close to power lines can cause damage to electric facilities and can cause outages during storms. Please follow the guidelines below when planting trees on your property. 

Tree Planting Guide
Tree planting guide

Trees will quickly outgrow their sapling stage, and within a few years your 3' tall spindle will have developed into a substantial tree. Keep in mind that trees don't only grow vertically, but their branches extend horizontally too.

Trees should be placed no closer than 25' to electric utility lines. Consider the width your tree will develop within a matter of just a few years. As for height, they should not exceed more than 25' tall at 25' away. As the distance from the utility pole increases, the height of the tree can increase.

Tree Trimming/Removal
Tree Trimming

Despite taking precautionary steps to avoid electric lines, some trees still grow taller or wider than expected, and their branches interfere with electric lines or utility poles. When this occurs, one of two things needs to happen: 

A) The tree needs to be trimmed to avoid wire interference (see above photo).
B) The tree needs to be completely removed if it poses a severe threat to lines or poles.

For more information on tree trimming/removal, see the below link:

Utility Pruning of Trees Brochure

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • News

Contact Info

Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

5675 Route 87
P.O. Box 65
Forksville, PA 18616

Outages: 570-924-3418
Toll-Free: 1-800-596-8397

Customer Support: 570-924-3381
Toll Free: 1-800-570-5081

Follow Us Online

©2023 Sullivan County Rural Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • About Us
    • About Sullivan County REC
    • Directors
  • Billing
    • Electric Service Rates - 2023
    • Billing Terms
    • Go Paperless!
  • Financial Assistance
    • Budget Billing
    • Helping Hand Fund
    • LIHEAP 2022-2023
    • PAHAF Utility Assistance
    • Rebates & Tax Credits
  • SCREC Center
    • Board Meeting Summary
    • Bylaws
    • Cooperative History
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Director Election
    • Member Policies
    • Membership Application
    • Membership Handbook
  • Member Services
    • Capital Credits
    • Contact Us
    • Contractor/Member References
      • Electrical Inspectors
      • Generlink
      • Spec Sheets
    • Co-op Connections
    • Co-op Owners for Political Action
    • Co-ops Vote
    • Kids Programs
    • Security Lighting
  • Energy Management
    • Electric Thermal Storage
    • Energy Savings
    • Member Owned Generation
    • Sources Of Generation
    • Useful Management Tools
  • Electrical Safety
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Quiz
  • Outages
    • Outage FAQs
    • Preparing For An Outage
    • Report An Outage
    • What To Do During An Outage
  • News & Events
    • 2022 Annual Meeting
    • Past Penn Lines
    • Penn Lines Ideas
  • Operations
    • Right-of-Way
    • Trees
  • Touchstone Energy
    • About Touchstone Energy
    • Touchstone Energy Savings