Trees Near Power Lines in Connecticut: Who’s Responsible — You or Eversource?

Every fall, as the leaves drop, homeowners suddenly see what’s been hiding all summer: branches resting on the wire that runs from the street to the house. And almost every one of them asks us the same thing: “Isn’t that Eversource’s job?”

The answer is, No… it isn’t. In Connecticut, responsibility for trees near power lines depends on which wire you’re looking at, and most homeowners are surprised to learn how much of it falls on them. Here’s how it breaks down, what your rights are when the utility wants to cut your trees, and why this is one tree job you should never tackle yourself.

The short answer: Eversource maintains trees along its main distribution lines on the street. Homeowners are responsible for trees on their property that grow toward the service line, the wire that runs from the utility pole to the house

Know Your Wires: Not All Lines Are the Same

Look up at the pole in front of your house and you’ll usually see three kinds of wire.

• Primary distribution lines. These are the high-voltage lines running along the top of the poles down your street. Eversource handles tree clearance here as part of its vegetation management program.
• The service line (sometimes called the service drop). This is the lower-voltage wire running from the pole to your house. Trees growing into it are generally the property owner’s responsibility.
• Cable, phone, and internet lines. These are lower on the pole and belong to telecom providers. Trees on your property that threaten those lines are also typically yours to maintain.

In the towns we serve across Tolland, Hartford, and Windham counties, Eversource is the electric utility, so we’ll reference them throughout.

What Eversource Is Responsible For

Eversource runs a year-round vegetation management program in Connecticut, trimming and removing trees along thousands of miles of roadside distribution lines to reduce storm outages. The company notifies property owners in advance when planned work affects their property.

On service lines, Eversource’s own guidance is narrow: it generally does not trim service wires to homes unless there is significant chafing or mechanical strain, because those situations are an immediate reliability and safety threat. If a branch is pressing on or straining your service wire, you can request a tree assessment by calling Eversource at 800-286-2000.

A few details homeowners often miss:

• If Eversource removes a tree on your property for reliability reasons, stump and often wood removal is your responsibility.
• During storm restoration or emergency work, crews cut what’s necessary to restore power, but you’re responsible for removing and disposing of that wood.
• For planned work, you can ask to keep the wood or chips.

What Homeowners Are Responsible For

Eversource is clear in its Connecticut communications: homeowners are responsible for tree maintenance on their own property, including keeping branches away from the lower-voltage service wires that connect homes to the main lines, and the company strongly recommends hiring a professional tree service for that work.

In practice, that means if your maple has grown into the line feeding your house, or a dead pine is leaning toward it, you have to address it. If it fails and takes down the service line in a storm, you’ll also face a home outage, potential damage to the mast and meter, and an electrician’s bill before power can be restored.

Your Rights When the Utility Wants to Cut Your Trees

Connecticut gives property owners real protections here. Under state law (CGS § 16-234, as updated by Public Act 13-298; see CT DEEP: Trees and Utilities), a utility generally must notify the abutting property owner before pruning or removing trees and shrubs. According to CT DEEP’s summary of the law:

• Notice must be given 15 business days before work begins.
• The property owner then has 10 business days to object or request a consultation with the local tree warden.
• The tree warden decides, and either side can appeal to the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA).

There are exceptions. A utility can act without notice if part of a tree is in direct contact with an energized conductor or shows visible signs of burning, or if the tree warden agrees in writing that the tree is a hazard. If you receive a notice and aren’t sure the work is justified, a licensed arborist can give you an independent opinion before your objection window closes.

Why You Should Never Trim Near a Power Line Yourself

Contact with power lines is a well-documented cause of serious and fatal tree-work accidents, and it happens to experienced professionals, not just homeowners. You don’t need to touch the wire. It can travel through a damp branch, an aluminum ladder, a pole saw, or a rope.

Federal safety rules reflect that. OSHA requires workers without specialized electrical training to stay at least 10 feet from energized overhead lines rated 50 kV or below, and only specially trained line-clearance tree trimmers may work inside that zone. If professionals are held to that standard, a homeowner on a ladder with a pole saw shouldn’t be anywhere near it.

Branches near wires also behave unpredictably. A limb resting on a line may be under tension and can spring when cut. A cut piece can swing into the wire as it falls. This is exactly the kind of job where experience and planning make the difference.

What to Do If a Branch Is on a Line or a Line Is Down

1. Assume every wire is live. Even a line that looks dead can be energized or re-energized without warning.
2. Stay well back and keep others, including pets, away. Don’t touch the tree, the branch, or anything in contact with them.
3. Call Eversource at 800-286-2000, or 911 if there’s sparking, fire, or immediate danger.
4. Don’t attempt removal until the utility has made it safe. Once the line is de-energized or cleared, a tree service can safely handle the rest.

Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place

The easiest power line problem to solve is the one you never create. A tree that matures at 60 feet has no business going in under a wire. Eversource publishes a list of recommended trees that stay under about 30 feet at maturity, and our guide to choosing the right tree for your Connecticut yard covers native species that fit tighter spaces.

Why Fall Is the Time to Deal With It

Late fall and winter are ideal for line-clearance pruning. With the leaves down, you can clearly see where branches contact wires, and dormant-season pruning is easier on the tree. More importantly, it gets the work done before nor’easters and ice storms put extra weight on every limb. Ice-loaded branches near service lines are one of the most common reasons homes lose power in a Connecticut winter. Our storm preparedness guide has more on how to get ahead of it.

How Arbortech Helps

Our licensed arborists can assess trees near your service line, clarify what’s your responsibility and what’s the utility’s, and recommend whether pruning, cabling, or removal is the right call. When work needs to happen close to an energized line, we coordinate with Eversource so it can be done safely. And if Eversource has already cut a tree during restoration, we can handle the cleanup and stump grinding the utility leaves behind.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Eversource trim trees near my house for free?

Eversource trims along its main distribution lines at no cost to you. For the service line to your house, it generally intervenes only when a branch is in direct contact and causing significant strain. Otherwise, the homeowner is responsible for maintaining those trees.

Who is responsible for the wire from the pole to my house in CT?

Eversource owns the service line, but the property owner must keep trees on their property clear of it. Eversource recommends hiring a professional tree service for that work.

Can Eversource cut down a tree on my property without asking?

Generally not. Connecticut law requires utilities to notify the abutting property owner before pruning or removing trees and gives the owner a window to object. Exceptions apply when a tree is in direct contact with an energized line or shows signs of burning.

Who pays for stump removal if Eversource cuts my tree?

The property owner. If Eversource removes a tree on your property for reliability or safety, stump removal is your responsibility.

Is it safe to trim branches near a service line myself?

No. Electricity can arc through branches, ladders, and tools. OSHA requires workers without specialized training to stay at least 10 feet away from energized lines. Hire a professional and, if needed, have the utility make the line safe first.

What should I do if a tree branch is resting on a power line?

Stay away, keep others back, and call Eversource at 800-286-2000. Call 911 if there’s sparking, smoke, or fire. Don’t touch the tree or anything touching it.

Trees Growing Into Your Service Line?

Arbortech’s licensed arborists can assess trees near your power lines and handle the work safely, in coordination with Eversource when needed.
Call 860-777-8902 or request an estimate at arbortechct.com
CT Arborist License #S-6872 | HIC #0651213 | Fully Licensed & Insured Since 2005

Sources

• Eversource — Who Is Responsible for Maintaining Vegetation? (Tree Assessment)
• Eversource — Connecticut News: Tree Work and Homeowner Responsibility
• CT DEEP — Impact of Section 60, Public Act 13-298 on Utility Pruning and Tree Wardens
• CT DEEP — Trees and Utilities
• OSHA — Line-Clearance Tree Trimming Operations