Tree touching power lines in New South Wales, Australia: who is responsible

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It describes the pages of two network operators. Other distributors and other Australian states are not covered here.

Ausgrid: owner, Ausgrid and council

Ausgrid's page on tree trimming responsibilities says a property owner is responsible for keeping vegetation clear of private overhead powerlines and poles on the property, and for having those lines and poles inspected, tested and maintained at regular intervals. It says Ausgrid, as network operator, is responsible for trimming around network assets that are not on private property. It describes a Tree Safety Management Plan, developed with councils and communities, that sets out its vegetation program and the minimum clearance distances, and says keeping those zones free of vegetation is the property owner's responsibility. In the page's FAQ the minimum clearances run from 0.5 to 6 m depending on species, location and bushfire risk.

The page gives five scenarios about the service wire to a house:

A tree on the owner's own property: the owner clears growth up to the property boundary, and Ausgrid clears any vegetation on council land.
A council tree on the verge or footpath: Ausgrid clears growth on either or both sides of the boundary line as needed.
An owner's tree growing over the council strip: Ausgrid clears the growth over the strip and the owner clears growth on the property.
A neighbour's tree growing over the boundary: Ausgrid clears all growth to keep the service wire safe.
An owner's tree affecting a service wire that crosses the neighbour's property: Ausgrid clears on the neighbour's property and the owner clears on their own.

On who may do the work, the page says trimming or removal near powerlines is highly dangerous, and that tree trimming within three metres of Ausgrid powerlines must be done by workers accredited under the SafeWork code of practice for work near overhead powerlines. It says clearing inside the space SafeWork treats as a No Go Zone can only be done by companies contracted to Ausgrid. Where an owner is responsible, the page says to engage an accredited or authorised contractor. It adds that Ausgrid runs a Bushfire Prevention Program in bushfire zones, may serve defect rectification notices, and, if an owner does not keep the minimum clearances or does not permit Ausgrid to, may arrange the work and charge the owner under the Electricity Supply Act 1995 (NSW).

The page says Ausgrid's contractors trim to its Network Standard NS179, the Industry Safety Steering Committee guide ISSC3 and the Australian Standard AS4373 on pruning of amenity trees. It says contractors clear clippings within 48 business hours after trimming local streets, and that Ausgrid publishes tree trimming schedules monthly, one month ahead, for Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Hunter. Its tree trimming program page says all landowners are responsible for maintaining vegetation near powerlines, and that Ausgrid engages specialist contractors to routinely clear vegetation on public land growing close to the network.

Endeavour Energy: private powerlines and notice

Endeavour Energy's vegetation management page says a person with private powerlines on their property is responsible for keeping trees and vegetation a safe distance from them. It says Endeavour inspects private powerlines regularly and, if a tree or branch is too close, tells the owner in writing what needs to be done. It says it may re-inspect once the owner has fixed the problem, and that if the work is not done, power may be disconnected for safety reasons.

The page says owners are responsible for trees growing on their property, and that if a neighbour's vegetation is within safety clearances of someone's service line, Endeavour will take steps to have it pruned. It says a three metre safety clearance from powerlines is always to be kept and suggests considering a professional tree trimmer. It lists minimum clearances in a table on the page, with bare low voltage and street light wires in a separate row from covered service lines. Endeavour says it manages vegetation over a cycle, publishes the months and postcodes scheduled for work, and follows a Tree Management Plan that, it says, is in line with the Electricity Supply (Safety and Network Management) Regulation 2014. It says its crews work with councils and check state registers for heritage, memorial and significant trees and threatened species.

Where the two differ

Ausgrid's page splits service-wire cases between owner, Ausgrid and council. Endeavour's page, in the text read here, sets the owner's duty for private lines and trees on the property and says it acts on a neighbour's encroaching vegetation.
Ausgrid describes defect notices and charging the owner. Endeavour describes written notice, re-inspection and possible disconnection.

Who to call

Ausgrid: advice on trees near its powerlines; its page offers a tree trimming check request
Endeavour Energy: trees near its powerlines; its page offers an online map to report vegetation at a pole
Working near power lines: what regulators say about distances for people doing the work