Tree touching power lines in Prince Edward Island, Canada: who is responsible
Maritime Electric, the electricity utility on Prince Edward Island, publishes pages on what tree work it does near its lines, how a request is handled, and how far from lines trees are planted. This page reports what those 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 the utility's own pages. Other Canadian provinces have their own utilities and rules, and none is covered here.
What the utility says it does
The Maritime Electric page Tree Trimming says the company performs tree trimming to prevent limbs and branches from contacting distribution power lines and, where it deems it necessary, cuts trees down. It says trees that obstruct the route of new distribution lines are trimmed or removed. It gives 1-800-670-1012 for reporting a potential problem. The page does not publish a split of responsibility by type of wire, and it does not say who pays for work on private trees.
How a request is handled
The Tree Trimming page says that when the company is asked to trim a tree, a company representative visits the site and decides whether electrical safety hazards exist. It says trees that have grown close to energized lines must only be trimmed by qualified personnel with the proper tools, equipment and training. It says that when the company trims, it makes every effort to leave enough clearance for the tree to stay safe until the next maintenance cycle, and that its trimmers are trained to redirect growth away from the lines and to maintain the health of the tree. It says contact with a secondary power line can kill.
Planting distances
The company page Tree Planting Guide says fallen trees and branches are one of the most common causes of power outages on the island. It gives one worked distance: a tree 30 ft tall at maturity should be planted at least 45 ft from power lines, and the taller the tree, the further away it is planted, with only low-growing species in proximity to lines. The Tree Planting Guide PDF says trees and wind are the number one cause of power outages on Prince Edward Island, and that planting trees near or under power lines will result in outages and create a future public safety hazard. It lists four native species, each marked to be planted very far from power lines:
| Species | Mature height the guide gives |
|---|---|
| White spruce | 78 to 98 ft |
| Sugar maple | Up to 115 ft |
| Red maple | Up to 82 ft |
| Red oak | Up to 65 to 98 ft |
The guide says planting native species is highly recommended and sends readers to the MacPhail Woods Ecological Forestry Project website for a list of native tree species.
Who to call
- Maritime Electric, 1-800-670-1012: reporting a potential problem with a tree near a power line
- Maritime Electric, tree planting guide: planting distances from power lines