Cowlitz PUD tree trimming near power lines

Where Cowlitz PUD trims

Cowlitz PUD serves Cowlitz County, about 48,200 residential, commercial, industrial and street-lighting customers in and around Castle Rock, Kalama, Kelso, Longview, Ryderwood, Silver Lake, Toutle and Woodland. Its vegetation program covers more than 622 miles of overhead distribution line and more than 119 miles of transmission line, and the PUD puts the program’s cost at about $2 million a year. See tree service in Longview and the Cowlitz County page for local permit and storm notes, and the utilities index if your bill comes from another utility.

What the PUD trims and how often

The PUD’s responsibility is the high-voltage primary distribution line that runs pole to pole. Its crews clear and trim all trees within 10 ft of those overhead lines, on a three-year pruning cycle. The contractor is the Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

Hazard trees get separate attention. The PUD notes that a tree that is dead, diseased, unstable or leaning toward its equipment can be dangerous without touching a wire, so it assesses those trees, contacts the owner and coordinates removal. Unless there is an emergency, it contacts you in person or in writing before removing a tree from your property.

Clearance distance

The PUD gives 10 ft as the minimum clearance for most of its power lines, and it keeps poles clear too: no vines, shrubs or trees on or right next to poles and guy wires, and all vegetation at least 10 ft from a pole. The PUD does not break the figure down by voltage (not stated).

The service wire and the free make ready

Customers are responsible for keeping trees, branches and brush clear of the service wire, the line from the transformer to the house or building. The PUD will provide a courtesy disconnect so the work can be done safely; call its Engineering Department at 360-501-9546 to set one up, then book the crew.

For a tree too close to the main lines, the PUD offers more: if you want it removed or pruned, it will perform a “make ready” at no charge, assuming any needed permits are in place. Ask the PUD what its make ready will cover before your crew prices the rest. Our page on tree removal near power lines covers how the job is sequenced, and the Washington tree removal permits guide covers the permit side.

How to request trimming

Non-emergency tree problems go in as a tree trouble ticket through the PUD’s online Tree Trimming Request form in SmartHub, or by phone at 360-423-2210, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The PUD does not publish a response-time target (not stated).

Limbs, logs and chips

On a routine trim, crews normally take away the limbs and debris. When the PUD removes a tree, it clears debris in the normal trim zone, but the logs are left by the right-of-way for you to remove, or for the public if you don’t want them. The PUD also takes Chip Dump Requests and schedules wood-chip deliveries.

A tree on a line right now

Keep everyone back and treat the tree, the wire and the ground near them as energized. Call the 24-hour dispatch center at 360-423-2210, or 911 first if there is fire, injury or a line on a vehicle. Cowlitz PUD’s page gives no stay-back distance (not stated); Snohomish PUD uses 30 ft, a sensible floor. A crew can start only after the PUD has cleared the line; see emergency tree service.

Who may work within 10 ft of a line

A Longview or Kelso tree service can take everything outside that zone. Check the company’s L&I contractor registration first with our Washington tree service license lookup.

Planting under Cowlitz PUD lines

The PUD’s planting guide uses mature height. Under the lines or within 20 ft of them, plant only trees that stay under 25 ft. Trees that reach 25 to 45 ft belong 20 to 50 ft from the lines, and anything taller than 45 ft at maturity should go more than 50 ft away.