Tree planting guide

Planting near powerlines

To prevent future tree-related outages, members should consider the following when planning landscaping projects:

• Plant trees with a mature height of more than 15 feet at least 35
  feet from electric utility wires or poles.
• Trees and shrubs with a mature height under 15 feet can be
  planted closer to powerlines, but consider the utility company's
  access needs for maintenance and repair.

Planting near electrical boxes

Mature trees and shrubs need to maintain 10 feet clearance in front of doors and 4 feet on all other sides of the box.  

Call before you dig!

Gopher State One Call is a free service designed to protect you and your property from underground utility damage and liability. Call before you dig. It's the law. Call 651-454-0002 or 800-252-1166. 

Tree trimming

Many outages result from trees falling onto power lines, reinforcing the importance of members following planting guidelines and supporting Dakota Electric's tree trimming work. If you see a tree near a power line that needs trimming, contact Dakota Electric at 651-463-6287.  

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