Tampa Electric balances its commitment to reliable service with the health of the trees it must trim near power lines. In recognition of the care we take to protect the health of trees we trim, The National Arbor Day Foundation™, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, has named Tampa Electric a 2009 Tree Line USA utility.
In our own tree planting initiatives at project sites including substations and the Manatee Viewing Center, as well as through our planting guidance to our customers, we follow the philosophy of planting the right tree in the right place.
Above all, we prioritize safety. You should never try to trim a tree near power lines yourself. This work should be handled only by qualified professionals. If a tree is growing near or into a power line on your property, notify us here or call us at (813) 223-0800 (in Hillsborough County), (863) 299-0800 (in Polk County), or 1-888-223-0800 (in all other counties and out-of-state).
Tampa Electric uses qualified professional tree trimming contractors that follow ANSI A – 300 and OSHA guidelines to manage the vegetation around our electrical facilities. To accomplish this, we use two types of pruning:
Cutting limbs to proper laterals helps minimize re-sprouting, which reduces the amount of re-growth into electrical facilities. Pruning to a proper lateral does not harm the tree’s natural defense systems. Instead, this helps protect the tree from decay. Note: is not our primary intent to trim the whole tree or to trim for aesthetic purposes.
Tampa Electric conducts vegetation management as part of our commitment to providing our customers with safe and reliable electric service. Trees in contact with electrical conductors are often problematic. Electrical outages, momentary interruptions, electrically induced fires, personal property damage, and even personal injury are potential outcomes. As with most utilities, trees are among the leading causes of power outages on the Tampa Electric system. Tampa Electric’s Vegetation Management program is designed to minimize tree conflicts while maximizing system reliability.
In our commitment to safety, we strictly follow OSHA guideline ANSI Z – 133, which states that only qualified line clearance tree trimmers shall perform tree trimming within the 10-foot approach space of an electrical utility line.
