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Hazard Tree Description

   Okanogan County PUD works very hard to maintain the overhead distribution lines in our service area.  Trees that interfere with high voltage conductors are hazards that can cause disrupted service, outages and fires.  The PUD knows that reliability and safety are important to our customers.

Primary, high-voltageSecondary Line

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There are two kinds of “power lines” on our power poles, and the difference between the two will determine what trees Okanogan County PUD trims and what trees the customer is responsible to trim.  The first type is PRIMARY high-voltage overhead distribution, typically 7,620-13,200 volt aluminum/steel reinforced conductors located at the “top” of the poles and connected by insulators.  Trees interfering with primary power lines are a hazard and can only be trimmed or removed by Okanogan County PUD crews.  The second type is what we call SECONDARY lines, the 120-240 volt insulated, duplex or triplex lines that extend from the transformer to your house, shop or business.  Trees interfering with secondary lines will NOT be trimmed by Okanogan County PUD tree trimming crews, as it is the customer’s responsibility to maintain secondary lines.  Most of the time, secondary lines extend across fences, pools, play houses, dog houses, gardens, garages, backyards and numerous other hard to reach and inaccessible places.  These lines are also insulated and pose less of a hazard by tree interference.       

Our tree trimming crews and contractor, Asplundh, trim out the primary distribution lines every 3 years in 25 different service areas, ranging from the Twisp River to Chesaw.

Please look at the “power lines” to help determine which kind of power line the trees are going through before you call the PUD for tree trimming requests.