It’s important to ensure that around your property trees and other plants don’t grow too close to powerlines and other electrical equipment.

• Tree limbs that come down during a storm or high winds can bring powerlines with them causing a power outage and leave live powerlines on the ground which is a severe safety hazard.
• Tree branches that touch powerlines can also cause a fire and create an electric shock hazard if someone touches the tree.
• Locate overhead powerlines before trimming or prunning trees.
• Contact Lakeland Power to remove, prune and trim trees around overhead powerlines.
• Look up when doing tree and property maintenance.
• Locate underground powerlines prior to excaving and removing tree trunks and/or roots, contact Lakeland Power to request a ‘locate’ to indentify underground powerlines. Allow a minimum of two weeks to receive all locates. All locates must be received prior to excavation.

If you’re planting new trees on your property, make sure to check the following safety tips.

• Locate overhead powerlines.
• Locate underground powerlines prior to digging or excaving to plant trees by contacting Lakeland Power to identify its undergound powerlines.
• ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT : minimum clearance when planting near pad mounted equipment.
  • TRANSFORMERS: 3 meters is required in front of the door(s) and 1.5 meters on the sides and back.
  • SWITCHGEAR: 3 meters is required in the front and back doors, and 1.5 meters on the sides.
• Check municipal, regional and township by-laws for specifications.
• Check with Lakeland Power for its planting requirements under or around overhead powerlines and electrical equipment, including underground powerlines.
• Check with Lakeland Power to identify easements that might apply.