That tree in your front yard looks great until a storm sends a branch into the power line running along the street. Then it is not just your problem. It is the entire neighborhood’s problem.
Trees near power lines are one of the leading causes of power outages in New Jersey. Every year, storms bring down branches and entire trees onto electrical infrastructure across Gloucester County, Camden County, and the rest of South Jersey, knocking out power to thousands of homes for hours or even days at a time.
But power outages are only part of the story. Trees that grow too close to electrical lines create fire hazards, electrocution risks, and liability issues that many homeowners do not think about until something goes wrong.
Here is what every South Jersey homeowner needs to know about trees and power lines: what the risks are, who is responsible, and what you can do to protect your property.
The Three Real Dangers
Electrocution
Wood by itself is a poor conductor of electricity. But a living tree is full of water, and water conducts electricity very well. If a tree branch is touching or even close to a power line, the electrical current can travel through the branch, down the trunk, and into the ground.
Anyone who touches that tree, whether it is a child climbing it, a homeowner trimming it, or a worker using equipment nearby, can be electrocuted. The dangerous part is that you cannot see any visible evidence that the tree is carrying a current. A tree that is in contact with a live power line looks exactly the same as one that is not.
State and federal laws in New Jersey prohibit any person from working within 10 feet of electric power lines without proper training and certification. This is not a suggestion. It is a law designed to prevent deaths. Every year, people across the country are seriously injured or killed when they attempt to trim trees near power lines using ladders, pole saws, or other tools that accidentally come into contact with the wires.
If you have a tree that is touching or growing into power lines, do not attempt to trim it yourself. Call your utility company or a licensed tree professional who is trained for line clearance work.
Fire
When a branch touches a power line, it can create sparks. Those sparks can ignite the branch itself, dry leaves, or surrounding vegetation. During dry conditions, this can escalate quickly.
Even a branch rubbing against a line over time can cause dangerous wear and tear on the wire’s insulation. This creates hot spots that can arc and ignite. The risk increases during high wind events when branches are pushed repeatedly into lines.
While large-scale wildfire risk is lower in South Jersey than in western states, localized fires from power line contact are a real hazard. A fire that starts in a tree canopy near your house can spread to your roof, fence, or other structures before you have time to respond.
Power Outages
Trees falling on power lines are the leading cause of power outages nationwide. In New Jersey, this plays out every storm season. When a nor’easter, thunderstorm, or high wind event moves through, trees that have been growing unchecked near lines bring down wires across entire neighborhoods.
Recent storms have knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers across New Jersey in a single event. In March 2026, storms with wind gusts over 70 mph caused widespread tree damage and outages across the state, with PSE&G, JCP&L, and other utilities reporting thousands of customers without power.
The outages are not just an inconvenience. They disrupt medical equipment, heating and cooling systems, refrigeration, and communication. For elderly residents, families with young children, and anyone with medical needs, extended outages can be dangerous.
And the repair process is slow, because utility crews first need to clear the fallen tree before they can safely work on the lines. A single large tree on a power line can take a forestry crew hours to remove before line workers can even begin restoring power.
Who Is Responsible for Trees Near Power Lines?
This is where it gets confusing for homeowners. The answer depends on which lines the tree is near and where the tree is located.
Utility Company Responsibility
In New Jersey, PSE&G, JCP&L (FirstEnergy), and Atlantic City Electric all operate vegetation management programs. These utilities are responsible for maintaining clearance between trees and the power lines they own, which includes the main distribution lines running along streets on utility poles and the high-voltage transmission lines on large metal towers.
PSE&G operates on a four-year maintenance cycle, sending crews through each area to prune or remove trees that threaten their distribution lines. JCP&L spends approximately $30 million per year on vegetation management. Both utilities employ certified arborists and licensed tree experts to oversee the work.
If you see a tree growing into or dangerously close to the main power lines on utility poles along the street, you can report it to your utility company. PSE&G has a “Report a Tree Issue” feature on their website. JCP&L accepts reports through their website as well. The utility will send a forester to evaluate the situation and schedule any needed work.
Homeowner Responsibility
Here is the part many people miss. The service drop, which is the line that runs from the utility pole to your house, is typically the homeowner’s responsibility to keep clear.
If a tree on your property is growing into the service line that connects to your home, you may need to hire a tree service company to handle the trimming or removal. The utility company handles the main lines on the poles, but the line running to your home is your responsibility to manage.
Additionally, if a tree on your property falls and causes damage to a neighbor’s property or to utility infrastructure, you could be held liable if it can be shown that the tree was visibly hazardous and you failed to address it. This is the same negligence standard that applies to dead trees and other known hazards.
What the Utility Will (and Will Not) Do
When a utility company trims trees near power lines, their priority is keeping the lines clear. They are not concerned with the aesthetics of your tree. This leads to a common homeowner complaint: utility crews “butcher” trees by cutting them asymmetrically to create clearance on the side nearest the lines.
The result is often a tree that looks lopsided, with an entire section of canopy removed. It is not pretty. But it is effective at preventing outages and hazards.
What utilities generally will do:
- Prune branches that are growing into or near their distribution or transmission lines
- Remove trees that pose an imminent threat to their infrastructure
- Assist with removing healthy trees within 10 feet of primary wires (with advance notice, typically 4 to 6 weeks)
What utilities generally will not do:
- Prune trees for aesthetic reasons
- Remove stumps after taking down a tree
- Handle trees near service drop lines (your responsibility)
- Clean up all debris (they may leave logs and brush for the homeowner)
If you want a tree near power lines properly pruned for both safety and appearance, it is often better to hire a licensed tree company that coordinates with the utility. A professional arborist can prune the tree in a way that maintains clearance while preserving as much of the tree’s natural form as possible.
The “Right Tree, Right Place” Principle
The best way to avoid the power line problem entirely is to plant the right species in the right location from the start. PSE&G and the New Jersey Tree Foundation promote this concept through their “Right Tree in the Right Place” program.
The idea is simple: if you are planting a tree near power lines, choose a species that will not grow tall enough to reach the wires at maturity.
Under power lines (within 20 feet): Plant only small trees that mature at 25 feet or less. Examples include dogwood, redbud, crabapple, Japanese maple, and ornamental cherry.
20 to 40 feet from power lines: Medium trees that mature between 25 and 40 feet are appropriate. Examples include river birch, red maple (smaller cultivars), and American holly.
More than 40 feet from power lines: Larger species like oaks, tulip poplars, and other tall shade trees can be planted safely at this distance.
If you already have a large tree growing directly under or within reach of power lines, you have three options: ongoing pruning to maintain clearance, coordination with the utility for their regular maintenance cycle, or removal and replacement with a species that fits the space.
What to Do If a Tree Falls on Power Lines
If a tree or branch falls onto power lines on or near your property, follow these steps:
Stay away. Treat all downed power lines as live. Stay at least 30 feet from the downed wire and the tree. A tree that is touching a live wire can conduct electricity through its trunk and into the ground. The area around the base of the tree may be energized.
Call 911. Report the downed lines to emergency services immediately.
Call your utility company. PSE&G can be reached at 1-800-436-PSEG (7734). JCP&L can be reached at 888-544-4877. Report the location and describe the situation.
Do not attempt to move the tree or cut branches. Even if the line appears dead, it could be re-energized at any time. Only trained line clearance professionals and utility crews should handle trees in contact with power lines.
Warn others. If it is safe to do so, alert neighbors and pedestrians to stay away from the area.
After the utility clears the lines and confirms the area is safe, you can contact a tree removal service to handle the rest of the cleanup and any stump grinding that is needed.
Protect Your Property Before the Next Storm
If you have trees near power lines on your property, take action before storm season:
Identify which trees are close to lines. Walk your property and note any branches growing within 10 feet of any overhead wires, including the service line to your house.
Report issues to your utility. If branches are encroaching on the main distribution lines, contact PSE&G, JCP&L, or your local utility to report the concern.
Schedule professional pruning. For trees near your service line or trees that need more careful work than the utility will provide, hire a licensed tree care company. Bumblebee Tree Service handles tree pruning and tree removal near power lines across South Jersey.
Consider removal and replacement. If you have a large tree that will always be a problem near power lines, removing it and planting a smaller species may be the best long-term solution. This eliminates the cycle of repeated pruning and ongoing risk.
Never do it yourself. Working within 10 feet of power lines without proper training is both illegal and potentially fatal. There is no job, no matter how small, that is worth that risk.
Keep Your Property Safe
Trees and power lines do not mix. The closer a tree grows to the lines, the higher the risk of outages, fire, and electrocution. Taking care of the problem now, during calm weather, is always safer and cheaper than dealing with the aftermath of a storm.
Bumblebee Tree Service provides free estimates for all tree work across South Jersey, including Washington Township, Gloucester Township, Deptford, Glassboro, Swedesboro, Cherry Hill, and surrounding areas.
