Planting a tree near a power line
Hazards and nuisances if the required minimum clearance is not maintained
What is meant by
"required minimum clearance"?
"required minimum clearance"?
- Take a moment to watch
this animation: 
Hazards and nuisances if the required minimum clearance is not maintained
If you do not maintain the required minimum clearance when planting a tree or shrub, you are taking these risks:
- The tree will grow too close to the medium-voltage line.
- The tree may catch fire if a branch comes too close to a power line: hazard for the neighborhood, power failure, damage to the tree.
- On a windy day, a branch may fall onto the power line and break it: hazard for passers-by, power failure for the entire neighborhood.
- Hydro-Québec will periodically prune the tree, which will lose its natural shape.
- Maintenance costs for the power system and electricity bills may ultimately be affected.
- When you plant a tree, be sure to maintain the required minimum clearance from medium-voltage lines.
- Never place a climbing plant so that it will grow up a power line pole. In the long run, this will inevitably create a dangerous situation.
- Use this easy way to choose a suitable tree or shrub – Online tool: "Clearance-Tree-Electricity"
- How to measure the required minimum clearance
- Did You Know?
-
More than 40% of power failures are caused by branches and trees falling onto overhead power lines.
The required minimum clearance takes into account:
- the span and height of the fully mature tree or shrub
- a safety margin around medium-voltage lines
- risk factors such as vulnerability to wind or ice damage
