TECO & Trees
Tampa Electric Co. operates according to OSHA (Occupation Safety and Health Administration) regulations for line clearance.
No other entity is permitted to operate within 10 ft. of an energized conductor (of electricity).
TECO states that its primary responsibility to its customers is to provide safety and reliability. Homeowners are permitted to maintain, prune, trim trees on their private property but are not permitted to do so within 10 ft. of an energized conductor or overhead electrical wires.
TECO maintains the right to prune or trim any tree which is located on private property and which is within 10 ft. of an energized conductor.
Those V Shaped Tree Canopies
When planting trees it is important to consider that trees which grow to be very tall or wide should not be planted underneath electrical wires or next to power poles as doing so will cause future problems or even dangerous situations to occur. When planting a tree, try to picture how the tree will look 5 or 10 years into the future and plan accordingly.
TECO states that trees are pruned according to ANSI A300 (American National Standards Institute) standards and following industry practice and standards. TECO states that trees are normally pruned on a four-year cycle and that tree trimming is always practiced with the health of the tree in mind. The V-shaped cuts may not be aesthetically pleasing to the eye but they are not harmful or detrimental to the structure or health of the tree and, in fact, may even help to preserve the tree’s canopy during storms which create high winds.
In cases of emergency (If you see a fallen tree or branches that have fallen on a power line) call TECO’s emergency number which operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week:
813-223-0800
In cases where a tree is located on private property and needs trimming due to its proximity to power lines.
Call TECO and place a service request
813-635-1500
Monday - Friday
8am to 5pm
