Trees and Power Lines
Trees are an important part of beautifying our community and they provide many benefits to residential neighbourhoods and commercial areas.
To keep our community safe, the Town of Ponoka assesses and trims tree branches encroaching on power lines on an annual basis or as needed at other times of the year.
Tree Trimming and Power Lines
Overgrown trees can create electrical hazards and damage to power lines. Tree trimming is done for various reasons, such as regulation requirements for public safety reasons and to ensure the reliability of electrical services in our community.
Who is Responsible?
The Town of Ponoka is responsible for trees that:
- Interfere with high voltage power lines; and
- Are located on public land along boulevards, back alleys and Town-owned properties, parks and greenspaces.
Homeowner Responsibility
All trees that interfere with low voltage power lines on your private property are the responsibility of the homeowner, including vegetation that grows over the property line.
The Town of Ponoka recommends that homeowners hire a professionally certified arborist who is trained to safely maintain trees and other vegetation on your property. For a list of arborists who are certified, please visit the International Society of Arboriculture, Prairie Chapter.
Please Plan Before You Plant
Trees should always be planted away from power lines. Always consider what type of tree you are planting and where you are planting it to reduce electrical safety hazards.
Remember the following tips when planting trees:
- Picture the tree at its full height and width - will the tree pose a problem in the future when fully grown?
- Avoid planting trees near power lines.
- Click Before You Dig or contact Alberta One Call at 1-800-242-3447 to determine the vicinity of power lines before you dig.
- Avoid planting trees where the root growth may interfere with the power supply.
Please see the Frequently Asked Questions below for more information on utility tree trimming in the Town of Ponoka: