Pruning Standards

All tree trimming is done by licensed contractors according to accepted utility and ANSI A300 standards.

BGE maintains approximately two million trees on a three- to five-year trimming cycle.
Our regular inspection of overhead power lines, combined with reliability performance data, helps us plan our yearly tree work.
BGE Foresters conduct periodic inspections of our rights-of-way to collect data on trees that may impact electric reliability, brush control requirements, infrastructure maintenance needs and environmental features.
- Transmission Right-of-Way (ROW) Mowing
  BGE mows the grass on the BGE-owned transmission rights-of-way starting in the Spring and ending in the Fall. Rural areas are mowed once and residential areas are mowed twice during the season. Mowing is usually done at the same time each year, but may be changed to meet weather conditions. The ROWs are maintained as fields or meadows, not as a lawn or turf area. BGE does not spray the ROWs for broadleaf weeds (Dandelion) or ticks.

Our licensed contractors attempt to place door hangers on all properties in a neighborhood where tree pruning will occur. In cases where heavy tree pruning or removal is required, the customer is contacted directly. Any questions about the proposed tree work should be addressed to the contractor whose phone number is listed on the back of the door hanger.

Methods

The amount of required clearance for the power line depends on the voltage and construction of the line, growth rate and species of the tree, and the trees' proximity to the line.
Attempts are made to leave as much of the remaining tree crown growing away from the lines as possible, which helps to maintain tree health.
In some cases, where a large portion of the crown is removed, removal of the tree is recommended. If a hazardous tree is identified during routine tree maintenance, permission for removal is secured and the tree is removed.
The final cut is not dictated by distance, but by the structure of the individual tree limb.
Final cuts will be made at a lateral branch large enough to maintain the health of the remaining limb, or to the trunk of the tree.

Debris

In urban/residential areas, all cut branches below eight inches in diameter are removed and the remaining wood is cut to manageable lengths and left for the homeowner's use.
In rural wooded areas, the debris is cut so that it lays closer to the ground to expedite natural decay.
BGE does not take requests for wood chips, but an interested homeowner can contact the contractor in their area with their request.
BGE does not remove debris due to a customer's tree breaking or falling onto BGE's equipment.