Can PSO do this?

[tulsa1603]

I knew they were going to be trimming in my neighborhood soon, and after the infamous 2007 Ice Storm that left me out of power for 10 days, I don't mind one bit.  Anyway, a PSO arborist left a note on my door.  They will be taking out two redbud trees that are in the easement, which I'm fine with.  However, there is also a note about my Silver Leaf Maple, which they will be trimming back "20' from power line"  Do they have the right to trim a tree back that isn't even in the easement or near it?  One branch might be tickling the edge of the easement, but just barely.  I have a 10' easement back there, and the power line itself is on the backside of it.  That would mean they are trimming 10' past their easement into my yard.  I'm not really all that upset about it, but I am concerned that they not ruin a tree that isn't anywhere near them.  What are their rights are when it comes to tree trimming?

[Conan71]

Their tree trimming ritual is somewhat of a mystery.  They came down Gary Pl., hacked up all the trees in the right of way on the Gary Pl. side of the fence line, but have not even marked the trees growing into their lines on the Harvard side of the fence line.

[cannon_fodder]

I believe they are given berth to trim trees as necessary to ensure the integrity of the lines.  Which can mean beyond the easement.  

In some instances, if they could only trim TO the easement they would have to trim every year.  Though, I am no expert in this matter.  So contact PSO and ask them if there is an alternative you can seek.

Recently I got a notice too.  They are trimming my the line from the easement to my house... "minor trimming" in spite of the fact that the line goes in the middle of a 40' tall oak tree.  Not sure how "minor trimming" will do anyone any good and I'm a bit concerned.

Oh, and I have dogs.  Which they didn't seem to notice (only 150 lbs worth of dog.  Easy to miss I suppose?).  So I wonder if they really looked at the situation.

[waterboy]

Silver Leaf Maple? Ask them to go 30' feet inside the line and remove it all together. They droop, break pretty easily and nothing grows well under them. I hate that tree.

[mrhaskellok]

There are sometimes two actual "easements" one is an actual physical say 20' easement for their utilities but in that easement (filed at the court house so you could check on it) it may stipulate a "working easement" of say 30'.  In other words they must be able to work on their lines and so often times the size of earth needed and thereby blocked from development is too small to actually accomplish maintenance on the lines.  

Not saying that is the situation with your property, but it is a situation I have come across with easements.

[Breadburner]

See if they will take the Silver Maple down to the ground they would be doing you a favor...

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by tulsa1603

I knew they were going to be trimming in my neighborhood soon, and after the infamous 2007 Ice Storm that left me out of power for 10 days, I don't mind one bit.  Anyway, a PSO arborist left a note on my door.  They will be taking out two redbud trees that are in the easement, which I'm fine with.  However, there is also a note about my Silver Leaf Maple, which they will be trimming back "20' from power line"  Do they have the right to trim a tree back that isn't even in the easement or near it?  One branch might be tickling the edge of the easement, but just barely.  I have a 10' easement back there, and the power line itself is on the backside of it.  That would mean they are trimming 10' past their easement into my yard.  I'm not really all that upset about it, but I am concerned that they not ruin a tree that isn't anywhere near them.  What are their rights are when it comes to tree trimming?

The tree crews are ordered to clear 20' from the location of the power line. Imagine there is a vertical wall where power line (not the pole, the line) is. They will cut anything within 20' (approximately) of that wall. As you describe it, it sounds like the tree is currently about 6-8ft from the line. They have to predict growth and assume that something 6-8ft away could easily be in the lines in the next few years so they trim it back now. If 20ft is enough to make the tree overly lopsided or even cut into the base, you might ask about having it removed.