Trees and Reliability

Line Clearance Program

Trees are an integral part of our landscape and environment. As your electric utility, Midwest Energy Cooperative is committed to preserving the landscape and environment while providing reliable and safe electricity. To do this, we must control the growth of vegetation around power lines and other energized equipment. Tree limbs that contact power lines are the most common cause of power outages, especially during storms. Trees also pose a safety hazard, and we will take immediate action to remove any “climbable” tree that is in close proximity to a power line.

Prior to beginning any tree work, a member of our tree crew the work to be done. He or she tours the area, looking for trees growing under power lines, overhanging branches and limbs, hazardous trees, or trees with the potential to contact power lines in the near future. Our goal is to remove obstructions to provide at least fifteen feet of ground-to-sky clearance from each side of the line.

Planning Guide

Trees and power lines do not mix, which is why careful planning is important before you plant your new tree. Outages and personal injury can result when trees come in contact with electrical conductors. We strongly encourage members to avoid planting trees near or under power lines. Small variety trees should be planted at least 15 feet away from power lines, medium variety trees, at least 30 feet away, and large variety trees, at least 40 feet away.

Never plant a tree or shrub on an underground right-of-way, and always maintain a clear area of at least 20 feet around any utility pole or padmount transformer. And, as always, call before you dig. The Miss Dig program is Michigan’s one-call utility notification organization and can be reached at 1-800-482-7171. Member utilities will mark the approximate location of their underground public utility lines at no charge.

Service Line Trimming

Midwest Energy Cooperative will trim along the service line running from the transformer to your home if a tree is in contact with the line. We do not remove trees. If you would like a tree removed, we would be happy to drop the line so that you can have the tree safely removed. Please contact the cooperative office at 1-800-492-5989 and provide at least a 24 hour notice before any work is to begin.

Jobsite Cleanup

Our contract crews will dispose of branches and limbs in the most economic and practical manner possible. During regular line clearing activity, crews will remove branches and limbs within maintained or landscaped areas and leave wood for use by the homeowner or resident. In non-maintained areas, crews will leave wood, branches and limbs for use by the homeowner or resident or to decompose naturally. During emergency power restoration, crews clear trees from our facilities and move to the next location. Midwest does not return to remove wood, branches and limbs.

Call Before You Dig

Whether you are a homeowner or a professional contractor, if you are planning a project that will involve digging, you must call the statewide one-call utility notification system first. Underground utility lines are buried everywhere - even in your own backyard. If you dig into a "hot" electric line, the result could be death or serious injury. Call before you dig, and Midwest Energy Cooperative and other member utilities will mark the approximate location of underground utility lines at no charge.

Michigan Customers: 1-800-482-7171
Ohio Customers: 1-800-362-2764
Indiana Customers: 1-800-382-5544