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Neighbors tree sitting on power line
Dr. Frenchenstein
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
So my neighbor has a HUGE evergreen tree that seems to be leaning more and more over my yard (and getting closer to my house...) I trim back what i can, but i don't really have a huge ladder to get the higher up limbs. Anyway, it's definitely sitting on my power line (from the main line to my house) so i emailed the power company, letting them know. I figured that they would come and trim the limbs back from the line, done deal. My GF said the neighbor was very apologetic to her the other day saying she was worried about the tree and that she was looking into what could be done... which was weird... Could the power company have called her up to force her to pay for the tree trim?
While the tree sitting on the power line does concern me, i'm also worried about it falling over onto my house. in my minutes of google research, it seems that as long as she can prove she didn't know the tree was in danger of falling over/diseased/etc, she wouldn't be liable for any damages to my house. is there anything i can do as far as due diligence on my end to prevent that beast from crushing the hellmouth? not that i would be averse to it being crushed, i just don't want it to happen on my dime...
While the tree sitting on the power line does concern me, i'm also worried about it falling over onto my house. in my minutes of google research, it seems that as long as she can prove she didn't know the tree was in danger of falling over/diseased/etc, she wouldn't be liable for any damages to my house. is there anything i can do as far as due diligence on my end to prevent that beast from crushing the hellmouth? not that i would be averse to it being crushed, i just don't want it to happen on my dime...
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If it's an option I would go for it.
But then again, this is the hellmouth we're talking about so who the fuck knows how things work in your pocket reality of suffering
In my town, Southern NH, we were told by the local power company, PSNH, when we had a power line rubbing on a tree, that since the tree was on our property it was our responsibility to do something about the tree. If the line came down in a storm and we knew this was a possibility, we would be charged for repairing it. The power company would also not touch the tree.
We ended up having a tree service take down the tree along with a bunch of others in the yard anyway. Amusingly enough, PSNH does offer a free service where they come out and take down and then put back the line while the tree company is working.
The lines would go to a pole in your yard, then down the pole through the ground, then up to the meter on the side of your house.
As far as the tree itself goes... maybe have a chat with your neighbor, something along the lines of splitting the cost to have a tree expert of some kind come out and assess the danger?
As far as damages, I had a tree service tell me once that I was only liable if my neighbors raised a concern that I did not then act upon. But that may be a state-by-state thing, I dunno. If you're that worried, you can find some way to get some kind of proof that you notified them of your concerns.
As far as who's liable if it falls on your house, I would check with your homeowners insurer. I want to say that hers would be liable regardless, though it might be one of those deals where yours would pay, but then seek recompense from her or her insurer on your behalf.
As a property owner, you are responsible for keeping the service wires on your property clear of vegetation.
Branches rubbing on service wires wear through the weather coating and may cause home electrical appliance damage.
You can perform your own pruning as long as you keep yourself, your equipment and all parts of the tree at least three metres away from the power line. If you can't or are unsure, contact a professional Certified Utility Arborists (CUA) to prune your trees.
If any part of the tree or hedge is within three metres of a power line, call power company for assistance
Since my shrub is growing around the power line, I called and told them. They said (luckily) it's no charge to me but they'll come around and trim it back (and seeing around town what they do, they'll do a hack job to clear enough space and new growth, which in my case is good, I want the bush gone). BUT summer months is the busy time to do this. I called a few weeks ago, they're "coming" but hopefully before the fall rain / wind / storms really pick up.
Basically, if it's too close to the wire, you NEED someone to do it right. Trees CAN conduct electricity in rare cases. But depending on the company, sure they could charge your neighbour if it's their tree or it's already included in all the rates you already pay.
It's a weird situation. the tree is not on my property, and where it's resting on the power line is above my OTHER neighbor's property. i wonder if it's on the tree owner to keep her plant in check? or the owner of the yard where the limb is coming in contact with the power line to keep it away from the line? that house is vacant, and i hate the guy who owns it. so part of me hopes its on him and the power company tentacle monster finds him and has it's way with him.
Maybe offer to buy her a new fruit tree (a few mini apple trees) to plant in its place to sweeten the pot if she gets it pulled down?
With regards to who is responsible I can not imagine it being anyone else than the tree owner as where it has it's roots and comes out of the ground. This goes for both anything regarding having it trimmed/removed and also being the one to have the responsibility if it comes down in a storm. If the later happens that the party in question is likely able to pass on the problem to his/her insurance if it wasn't a obvious thing the tree would come down (and the burden of proving that was obvious must be something the insurance company will have to take on).
Still checking with you own house insurance just to be safe is always a good thing.