Tree touching power lines in Oregon, United States: who is responsible
Portland General Electric, Pacific Power and the Eugene Water and Electric Board each publish tree pages that say which wires they prune, what they offer at no cost and what stays with the owner. This page reports what those three pages say.
This page is for tree owners. It reports what the named sources say and is not advice about your tree: for that, ask a qualified arborist or one of the offices under Who to call.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. It describes three utilities' own pages. It does not cover Oregon's other electric utilities, and no Oregon statute or Public Utility Commission rule was opened for this page. Other states have their own rules.
Portland General Electric
The PGE page Tree Safety and Maintenance says its contract tree crews visit an area every two to three years to inspect and prune trees along power line rights of way, directed by PGE foresters. It says Oregon Public Utility Commission regulations require this work. It sorts the wires on a pole:
| Line | What the page says |
|---|---|
| Transmission | Usually on metal towers up to 180 feet tall. The company maintains year-round clearances around these lines. |
| Primary distribution | At the top of poles above the transformer. Crews remove enough vegetation to keep at least 10 feet of clearance around these lines. |
| Secondary distribution | Below the transformer. The company prunes branches that strain or abrade these lines. |
| Service wires | From the secondary lines to the wall of a home or business. The company asks customers not to plant under or around them, and prunes branches that strain or abrade them. |
| Non-PGE lines | The page says not all lines on a pole are PGE lines. |
The page lists a PGE Tree Hotline, 503-736-5460, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., to call before working on trees near power lines. It also says the company offers free wood chips in neighborhoods where crews are working.
Pacific Power
The Pacific Power page Vegetation management says that as crews work through a neighborhood, they provide several services at no cost: routine pruning to maintain safe clearances and, in some cases, tree growth regulators to slow fast-growing species. It says a tree that presents a safety or reliability concern may be identified for removal. It adds that trees under 6 inches in diameter at chest height and not intentionally planted as part of the landscape are also removed. To prevent regrowth it applies low-volume herbicide to non-landscape trees and to cut stumps. The page says the company can send an arborist to evaluate a property, and that if tree work needs access near a service line, it can provide a free temporary service disconnect. It lists 1-888-221-7070 for tree-related questions.
Eugene Water and Electric Board
The EWEB page Trees and Power Lines says the utility proactively prunes trees to keep its equipment clear, and gives 541-685-7148 and an online form for reporting a problem tree or branch or requesting trimming. The page also says:
- Where utility poles are shared (joint use) and telecom lines run below electric lines, tree trimming extends into the area around those telecom lines, so trimming may look more extensive than before.
- The page recommends small trees, up to 25 feet high at maturity, for planting under or next to overhead lines, because they will seldom need pruning for line clearance.
- Utility workers need clear access to pad-mounted transformers, and the page asks that at least six feet be kept clear in front of the opening side.
- The page asks that perennial, woody vegetation be planted at least three feet from utility poles.
What the sources leave out
The three pages give no rule on who pays for work on a service wire, other than Pacific Power's free temporary disconnect for tree work near a service line.
Who to call
- PGE Tree Hotline, 503-736-5460: advice before working on trees near PGE lines, weekdays 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Pacific Power, 1-888-221-7070: tree-related questions and arborist evaluations
- EWEB, 541-685-7148: a problem tree or branch, or a tree trimming request