LIPA's Tree Trimming Program

One of our most effective programs in electric reliability is our Forestry Program, which features line clearance (trimming tree branches away from electric wires) and planting smaller, “wire-friendly” trees near electric wires.

• Line Clearance
• LIPA's Tree Management Professionals
• Thoughtful Tree Planning

Line Clearance

LIPA’s Line Clearance Program trims tree branches away from electric wires, helps ensure public safety, minimizes electrical interruptions and outages, and limits damage from severe storms. It also provides a zone of safety in which line workers can do their jobs.

Our Line Clearance Program focuses on trimming trees along an entire electrical circuit, which can be several miles long. Circuits that experience the most outages are handled first. Line clearance work is performed all year long.

LIPA’s Tree Management Professionals

LIPA hires professional crews who follow standards developed and approved by arboricultural societies and national safety agencies to perform line clearance work. These methods may result in trees having unnatural appearances, but they also preserve the health of the trees and keep tree branches safely away from electric wires.

• Will LIPA trim all trees?
  No, LIPA only clears tree limbs that threaten our electric wires.
• What is “Directional” Trimming?
  Directional trimming strives to train the tree to grow away from and around the wires. These trimming practices were developed by the U.S. Forest Service and are endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture as well as tree care professionals across the country.
• Who will remove the debris?
  We will remove the debris that results from our regularly scheduled line clearance program. However, when responding to emergencies or customer requested work the debris is the responsibility of the tree owner.
• Can I make a request?
  LIPA’s response to individual line clearance requests is limited to EMERGENCIES ONLY. Call us right away at (800) 490-0075 if a broken tree limb is actually leaning heavily on a LIPA wire or has caused a wire to come down.

Thoughtful Tree Planning

If you are thinking about planting new trees around your home, being mindful of the type, location and eventual height of the trees you choose is another way to improve safety and electric reliability. In fact, this is LIPA’s preferred, long-term solution to trees interfering with electric wires. Learn more