Trees beneath or beside power lines can create disruptions in electric service as well as present a variety of safety hazards. If wind, ice and snow bring down trees and limbs on power lines, tangled brush can prevent crews from quickly and safely getting into ROW areas to restore power. Each co-op in the state has its own way of keeping its ROWs clear and safe. In general terms here's how it works. Mechanical methods include tree felling and mowing.
Manual methods refer to tree pruning.
Depending on the area, co-ops may use a heavy duty mower to mow down small trees and shrubs. They may cut down trees that hang perilously near power lines, or a dead tree that might endanger the power line. They may prune trees in your yard that could come into contact with the power line. Mechanical clearing is usually the first stage of the ROW maintenance process. But the need for this type of invasive management is becoming less and less frequent, because new herbicidal technologies help keep tree growth down while allowing wildflowers and other herbaceous growth to flourish.