Trees, powerlines and safety — your obligation

Trees and vegetation growing too close to powerlines and other utility infrastructure can cause blackouts, create safety hazards such as grass fires and bushfires, and increase the risk of electrocution. Trees and vegetation can also restrict access to utility infrastructure, preventing essential maintenance from being carried out. Utility infrastructure includes powerlines, power poles, meters, substations, mini pillars and underground cables.

Four important things to remember

• Land owners and occupiers are obliged to keep trees and other vegetation on their properties clear of powerlines and utility infrastructure.
• Trees and vegetation growing near powerlines and utility infrastructure must not come within the minimum clearances.
• Only ActewAGL-accredited tree surgeons are authorised to work in close proximity to powerlines.
• If there is an electricity outage, planned or otherwise, overhead powerlines should continue to be treated as live and considered unsafe for tree trimming or any other purpose.

In most cases, trees must be kept at least 1.5 metres from powerlines.

Minimum distance of trees from powerlines

In most cases, the minimum clearance of trees from powerlines is 1.5 metres. For higher voltage powerlines the minimum clearance increases. If you are not sure of the voltage of powerlines, call ActewAGL's technical enquiries number on 6248 3555.

When trimming trees you should allow for a three-year regrowth. To keep the costs of repeat trimming down you should trim trees to at least 2.5 metres from powerlines. The space vertically above the powerlines should also be kept clear of trees at all times. In bushfire-prone area the minimum distance should be increased by at least 0.5 metres.

In the event that you experience an electricity outage, planned or otherwise, on no account should you treat overhead powerlines as de-energised and safe for tree trimming or any other purpose.