[CANUFNET] Tree Clearance around Overhead Utilities

[Mark Ventresca]

Hi Jessika,

Toronto Hydro uses Hendrix Tree Wire and puts the wires on taller poles, this has greatly reduced the outages caused by trees interacting with the electrical system during storms. Improving the tensile strength along with reducing the mass of the impacts (lifting the wires higher in the canopy) has allowed better integration of a proper urban forest with a dependable above grade electrical system in a dense urban area (such as parts of Toronto).

Description of Tree Wire: Is self-supporting covered conductor that is used in place of bare conductor in overhead primary distribution. Tree wire is used to reduce outages in areas where there is potential for incidental contact with tree limbs. Tree wire can also have a significant effect in the prevention of wildfires caused by sparks from primary conductors slapping together or contacting tree limbs. Tree wire cables can be an effective solution to solve problems with existing bare conductor circuits without the need for more expensive alternatives such as aerial bundled or underground cables.

Placing the above tree wire on taller poles means that the larger portion of a typical tree is below the wire and only smaller diameter branches are above (which the tree wire can handle easily). The other thing that Toronto Hydro does it to place these distribution wires vertically and not horizontally as was done in the past, this reduces the target size for branch failure as well.

I hope your utility is open to changing how they build their structure to accommodate a livable city.

Mark


Mark Ventresca
Senior Project Manager
Parks Planning & Strategic Initiatives
Parks & Recreation
City of Toronto

Phone: 416-394-5583
Email: Mark.Ventresca at toronto.ca



From: CANUFNET <canufnet-bounces at list.web.net> On Behalf Of Corkum-Gorrill, Jessika via CANUFNET
Sent: March 27, 2025 7:17 AM
To: Canadian Urban Forest Network <canufnet at list.web.net>
Cc: Corkum-Gorrill, Jessika <jcorkumgorrill at charlottetown.ca>
Subject: [External Sender] [CANUFNET] Tree Clearance around Overhead Utilities

Hello,

PEI still has mainly overhead power lines with few buried underground. With increased intense storms and power outages, our local utility is working to increase tree clearances around power lines. Communication delivered across the province from the electrical utility company requests that all trees be planted 45ft from overhead power lines. They are also working to increase clearances of existing trees/natural areas near lines. In urban areas, tree removals even 1/3 of the distance above would be detrimental to our already shrinking tree canopy.

Can anyone in this group speak to or share your bylaws or regulations for municipally owned tree protection, clearances, pruning, removals, planting near overhead utilities (in an urban setting)? Also, any input on ensuring occupational health and safety considerations for utility workers and how that relates to proximity of trees to the lines would be welcomed as well.

Many thanks!
Jessika

Jessika Corkum-Gorrill
Manager, Environment and Sustainability

City of Charlottetown
PO Box 98, 199 Queen Street
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Canada, C1A 7K2
Office: 902.629.4122

jcorkumgorrill at charlottetown.ca<mailto:jcorkumgorrill at charlottetown.ca>
www.charlottetown.ca<http://www.charlottetown.ca/>




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