Albezia removal near power lines. Referrals?

[Hunt Stoddard]

Big Island Tree also does residential jobs. Just had them do some here in Hilo and was very satisfied. Whoever you get, make sure they're insured, etc. DON'T take their word for it, look it up. I know for a fact that some of them are not honest about their coverage, and the last thing you want is a two foot tree down the middle of your house without insurance.

[Guest]

Hiring professionals highly recommended. Owners a few lots up from us, cut a small(ish) Ohia tree today. The tree fell over and made contact with the top transmission line. The arcing melted the wire and broke in two. Lost power for a couple hours. HELCO did an excellent job restoring power to our street pretty damn quick considering the damage.

[dragon2k]

quote:

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Originally posted by 4dognight

Hiring professionals highly recommended. Owners a few lots up from us, cut a small(ish) Ohia tree today. The tree fell over and made contact with the top transmission line. The arcing melted the wire and broke in two. Lost power for a couple hours. HELCO did an excellent job restoring power to our street pretty damn quick considering the damage.

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That's what they get for cutting an Ohia tree!

Glad you were back online quickly - Helco does have some top notch linemen.

[opihikao]

We just had a HUGE albezia tree (and a few smaller ones) taken down to the ground and the guys who did the job were fantastic! It was like a science how they felled the tree without damage to anything around it. They are insured, licensed and bonded, and the crew was extremely professional. JMO.

TR's Property Shop, LLC
#(808) 896-1964
www.trpropertyshop.com

TR Odeh, Owner

[kimo wires]

Helco will cut trees growing into the line coming into your house if they are growing up and into the line in such a way that it would be dangerous for you to do it. They generally want you to keep the area under your line clear but if they believe it's dangerous because limbs are close or contacting the line they will do it. You need to let them know. Basically they are responsible for any lines leading up to the Meter. If you have a Meter pole and more poles after the Meter you can turn off the Main Breaker and cut off the power to the rest of the line.

[EightFingers]

I didn't know that. Usually SE cable is all the owner's responsibility

[kimo wires]

The reason utility companies are responsible for the line all the way to the Meter is that a customer can't turn off the power on that stretch of the line.
so if you get electrocuted cutting trees your family won't be able to sue.
Ignorance is not grounds for a suit.

[Bullwinkle]

Had a tree come down on the line - can confirm that if the tree falls and no one hears.....

sorry ....If the tree falls on the street side of the meter ... its HELCO's issue - and they did a very good job - they have some way cool equipment and workers

[birdmove]

That's not what Helco told me. I was told they will trim as needed for the lines going down the street. They also said on the lines from the street to your house, these are the homeowners problem. My neighbor and I recently paid Allen's Tree Service to trim trees from the bottom of our respective driveways, and work up about 70-80 feet toward the houses.

Jon in Keaau/HPP

[ericlp]

quote:

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Originally posted by birdmove

That's not what Helco told me.

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Please remember these important tips when trimming your trees:
It is your responsibility to inspect and, if necessary, hire certified tree trimmers to trim trees on your property that are in contact with or in close proximity to the service line that delivers power to your property.
Damage to the service line caused by your trees and damage to equipment in your home caused by trees affecting your service line are also your responsibility.
Only professionally trained and certified individuals should trim trees that are touching or in close proximity to power lines. Upon request, Hawaiian Electric staff can assist by de-energizing and lowering your service line.
For your safety please call us at (808) 969-6666 before conducting any kind of work on trees that are near overhead lines. We will inspect the lines and will help determine the best course of action.
When working on trees that are near power lines, a ten-foot minimum clearance from the lines is required for safety (OSHA 1910.269). When setting up ladders and other equipment, everything should be secured so that nothing is in or can accidentally enter this safety zone.

This is from Helco themselves you have to WORD the questions right. You can't just call and ask them to come out and cut "YOUR" trees.

But you can request them to come out and de-energize the lines. Don't want anyone killing themselves on punaweb for wrong info.

Edit: If you call up Helco and get the run around... Tell em your next step is to inform OSHA.... OSHA doesn't mess around and will slap helco so hard and will make their meters spin backwards! If OSHA shows up Helco is in big trouble.