What to do BEFORE pruning or cutting down a tree

There are rules to follow when you are near a power line. The law requires some work to be done by arborists authorized by Hydro‑Québec. If anything happened to employees of an unauthorized company that you hired, you could be held liable.

At Hydro‑Québec, safety is our number one priority. Are you planning to prune or fell a tree due to any of the following situations?

  • 1. A tree or large branch has fallen onto the wires connecting your home to the power grid (service drop).

    Do not do this type of work yourself

    What to do

  • 2. A tree or large branch is leaning on Hydro‑Québec power system wires.

    Do not do this type of work yourself

    Let Hydro‑Québec know

  • 3. A tree or large branch looks like it may fall onto Hydro‑Québec power system wires.

    Do not do this type of work yourself

    Let Hydro‑Québec know

  • 4. There are sparks or smoke between Hydro‑Québec power system wires and a tree or large branch.

    Do not do this type of work yourself

    Let Hydro‑Québec know

  • 5. A climbing plant is overtaking Hydro‑Québec power system wires.

    Do not do this type of work yourself

    Let Hydro‑Québec know

  • 6. Any other situation where trees are close to electric wires

    Avoid accidents

    Go to the next question

A tree or large branch has fallen onto the wires connecting your home to the power grid (service drop).

1 What should you do if your home has no electricity?

Call Hydro‑Québec at 1 800 790-2424 (day or night) to report the situation.

2 What should you do if the service mast is damaged?

If you are a homeowner, call a master electricianThis link will redirect you to an external site. to have the service mast repaired (the service mast belongs to the homeowner).

If you are a tenant, contact your landlord so that they can have the service mast repaired by a master electrician.

3 What should you do if your home has electricity and the service mast is intact but a tree or large branch looks like it may damage the wires connecting your home to the power system (service drop)?

You must remedy the situation, but we recommend that you do NOT do it yourself. Hire an arborist who is a member of the Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec (SIAQ, Québec chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture).

If the tree is not yours, you must notify the owner.

Take pictures to send to the arborist.

List of arborists who are members of the SIAQThis link will open a new window. This link will redirect you to an external site.

Does the tree to be pruned or cut down belong to you?

It belongs to you if it’s located on a lot that you own.

Yes
No

You’ve answered:

Do the wires near the tree resemble any of these images?

Yes
No

Wires running along POLE TOPS. These are medium-voltage wires, and they are extremely dangerous. The two most common configurations of a medium-voltage line are a single bare wire mounted on a porcelain insulator or three bare wires mounted on porcelain insulators. ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE POLE, three BARE wires stacked one above the other, or three stacked wires where two or three are insulated, but the insulating sheath on one of them is visibly damaged.

You’ve answered:

Visually estimate whether there’s a risk of anyone or anything—tools, equipment or branches—getting within 3 m of these wires while the work is being done.

Think about the way the cut branch or tree would fall. Also consider the possibility that a worker could lose control of a tool or ladder.

Safety warning

DON’T USE A MEASURING INSTRUMENT OF ANY KIND: ESTIMATE AS WELL AS YOU CAN BY LOOKING AT THE TREE AND THE WIRES FROM THE GROUND.

NEVER PLACE A TAPE MEASURE OR ANYTHING ELSE WITHIN 3 M OF THE WIRES.

Go to the next question

According to your visual estimate, is there a risk of anyone or anything—tools, equipment or branches—getting within three metres of these wires while the work is being done?

Yes
No
I’m not sure

You’ve answered:

For safety reasons, you must hire an arborist authorized by Hydro‑Québec.

By law, only an arborist authorized by Hydro‑Québec is allowed to carry out tree pruning or felling work that might require a person, part of the tree or a tool to come within three metres of electrical wires at any time.

To see a list of authorized arborists, please check the box to agree with the conditions.

I have read the preceding and I understand that I have a legal obligation to hire an arborist who is a member of the Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec and who is authorized by Hydro‑Québec to do the work.

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Do the wires near the tree resemble any of these images?

Yes
No

Wires ABOUT HALFWAY UP THE POLE. These are low-voltage wires. The most common configurations are two wires with black sheathing, twisted around a bare metal wire, or three sheathed wires stacked one above the other, or three stacked wires, two of which are sheathed and the third bare.

You’ve answered:

According to your visual estimate, is there a risk of anyone or anything—tools, equipment or cut branches—coming into contact with these wires while the work is being done?

Safety warning

DON’T USE A MEASURING INSTRUMENT OF ANY KIND: ESTIMATE AS WELL AS YOU CAN BY LOOKING AT THE TREE AND THE WIRES FROM THE GROUND.

NEVER PLACE A TAPE MEASURE OR ANYTHING ELSE WITHIN 3 M OF THE WIRES

Yes
No
I’m not sure

You’ve answered:

Low-voltage wires are a serious shock hazard, even if they have an insulating sheath

Low-voltage wires (120 to 600 volts) can carry thousands of amps. As a precaution, never touch them, because the sheathing may be damaged, even if it doesn’t look like it.

Do not do this type of work yourself! Contact an arborist who is a member of the Société internationale d’arboriculture Québec (SIAQ), the Québec chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.

  • To help your arborist estimate the job, send photos.
  • Be sure to obtain any permits required: they are mandatory in many municipalities.

Display the list of arborists who are SIAQ members in this regionThis link will open a new window. This link will redirect you to an external site.

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