Trees near power lines around Cookeville

This guide covers two electric utilities: the city's own Cookeville Electric, and Volunteer Energy Cooperative, which has a customer service office in Monterey. Both trim around their lines on a schedule, and both say the same thing first: don't trim near power lines yourself.

Cookeville Electric

• All circuits are on a three-year trim cycle, which can be adjusted for fast-growing species and rainfall.
• Trimming uses natural target and directional methods under the city tree code, and follows the clearance standards in 29 CFR 1910.269.
• Work sites are inspected and authorized by a qualified Cookeville Electric employee or line clearance tree contractor.
• Report an outage or electrical emergency at 866-502-7411; the Electric Division's general line is 931-526-7411.

Volunteer Energy Cooperative

• VEC keeps a 40-foot utility easement, 20 feet on either side of a pole, from ground to sky, and no permanent structures in it.
• A full trim cycle takes 5 to 6 years, so limbs are cut back far enough to last until the next visit.
• Property owners are responsible for trimming around the service line to their home; VEC will disconnect it at no charge so the work can be done safely.
• Dead trees near lines are "a serious hazard, requiring immediate action." VEC will cut down or make safe a dead tree threatening its equipment, but doesn't clean up, chip or remove it, and doesn't remove storm debris.
• Call 855-940-3927 or use the right-of-way request form on VEC's site.

The service drop

A 2021 UC Now report on local utility advice says homeowners can usually identify the service drop, the line from the transformer to the meter, and may be able to have it trimmed around, while the city handles the high-voltage lines along the street. Even limbs that aren't touching a line can carry an electrical arc, so leave anything near the primary lines to the utility. If you're not sure which line it is, call.

Planting the replacement

Cookeville's ordinance keeps small public trees at least 8 feet from the line between utility poles and street trees at least 10 feet from poles, hydrants and street lights, and the city advises against planting large-growing trees near poles or under lines. VEC recommends short flowering trees or low shrubs near its lines.