Planting Guidelines

Landscaping is a great way to increase the value of your property and save energy, but trees and shrubs planted too close to power lines and other electrical equipment can create both safety and reliability concerns. You can help maintain power line access and clearance by planning ahead before planting trees and shrubs. These guidelines help ensure a safe and reliable service for all Dakota Electric members.

diagram of planting guidelines for trees, shrubs, and other vegetation and relative distance from power lines

Benefits of Tree Trimming

Clearing trees and overgrown vegetation is vital to provide safe, reliable power to our members.

In 2020, we began a five-year plan to clear certain areas in our service area, known as rights of way, to:

  • Keep power lines clear of tree limbs
  • Restore power outages more quickly
  • Keep crews and members of our community safe
  • Reduce unexpected costs for repairs

Vegetation management improves service reliability for you — our members!