Having a pretty and tidy yard feels great. But beyond making the neighbors green with envy, trimming your trees and managing vegetation can help prevent power outages, fires, and other stressful situations.

Even in our dry desert climate, trees can go rogue, growing tall and wild. And when they get too cozy with power lines or electrical equipment? That’s when the drama starts. Think: branches breaking during monsoon storms, entire trees toppling, and customers losing power in a flash.

The Pole Story

Power poles support more than wires. They’re integral to a system that keeps your lights on, your fridge humming, and your Wi-Fi streaming. It’s good to know what’s on them — including power lines of various voltages, transformers, insulators, and communication cables — and what shouldn’t be. (Hint: anything green and growing.) Take a look at the anatomy of a power pole for more details.

Why It Matters

• Power Outages: A branch today could be a blackout tomorrow. Storms, wind, and rain make things worse.
• Safety Hazards: Fallen lines = serious danger. Stay away and call 911.
• Low Voltage: Electricity always seeks the simplest path to ground. Trees make an excellent pathway. When trees are too close to power lines, they can reduce voltage, damaging sensitive electronics.

Who’s Responsible for Tree Maintenance?

UniSource works with Asplundh Tree Expert Company to prune public spaces and rights-of-way regularly. Yards are a job for homeowners.

If a tree near your home is flirting a little too closely with electric lines, it’s time to trim. We can support you by temporarily pausing your electric service while you safely prune. Just call  877-837-4968. If you’re using a tree trimming service, talk to your contractor about suspending electric service while their team goes to work.

The Right Tree for the Right Spot

Thinking about planting a new tree? Great! But pause before you dig that hole to make sure you know the answers:

• How tall will it get?
• How wide is that canopy going to spread?
• Is there a power line overhead that you have to consider?

And please, for the love of safety, call 811 or visit arizona811.com before you dig. They’ll help you avoid slicing through underground utilities. It’s the law and it’s free.

Bottom Line

A little tree TLC today saves you from an “Oh no, was that my internet?” outage moment tomorrow. Be smart, trim safely, and keep those branches in their lane.