Tree Branches Near Power Lines: Who to Call and What to Do
Short answer: If a tree or branch is touching a power line, or a line is down, stay far away and call your electric company or 911. In the Rio Grande Valley that's AEP Texas or Magic Valley Electric Cooperative, depending on your address. Lines on the poles are the utility's to clear. Texas law keeps people and tools at least 6 feet from high-voltage lines unless the line company has been told first and has made the area safe.
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Tree work near power lines is dangerous. A branch doesn't have to be sparking to be dangerous. This guide explains who handles what, so the right people do the dangerous part.
If a line is down or a tree is on a line
- Stay back. Keep everyone, including pets, well away from the tree, the line and anything touching them, like a fence or a puddle.
- Call 911 if a line is down, sparking or on fire, or if someone is hurt.
- Call your electric company to report it. Your bill shows which company serves you.
- Don't try to move the branch, even with something you think is safe.
- Wait for the utility to make the line safe before any tree crew starts work.
Who serves your home
Two companies deliver power in Hidalgo and Cameron County: AEP Texas and Magic Valley Electric Cooperative (MVEC). Which one serves you depends on your address. Check your bill or call the number on it. AEP Texas has a "Report Tree Problem" option on its website and runs a tree-clearing program near its lines.
What the law says: the 6-foot rule
Texas law on high-voltage lines (more than 600 volts) says nobody may do work where a person, tool or piece of equipment could come within 6 feet of the line unless:
- the line's operator has been notified at least 48 hours before the work, and
- the operator and the person doing the work have agreed on safety measures, such as turning off the line, covering it or moving it.
The person doing the work pays for those measures. Breaking the law can mean a fine of $100 to $1,000, up to a year in jail, or both, and paying for damage to the line.
Many lines on poles along streets and alleys carry high voltage, and you can't tell by looking. Treat every line as dangerous.
Who trims what
| Situation | Who to call |
|---|---|
| Branches touching or growing into lines on the poles | Your electric company |
| A tree or limb down on a line | 911 and your electric company |
| Branches near the line from the pole to your house | Your electric company first, to ask what they handle and what's needed before anyone works near it |
| A tree near lines that you want removed or trimmed for your own reasons | A tree service, which coordinates with the electric company before working within 6 feet |
| Trees and branches away from any line | A tree service |
What a tree service can do
A good tree provider will:
- Look at the tree and tell you whether any part of the job is near a line.
- Tell you if the electric company needs to be involved first, and coordinate with them.
- Take down or trim the parts of the tree that are away from the lines.
- Clean up and haul away the wood once the area is safe.
Ask the provider how they handle work near lines. Anyone who offers to cut branches touching a line without involving the electric company is putting themselves, and you, at risk.
After a storm
Storms are when trees and lines mix. During Hurricane Hanna in 2020, the National Weather Service in Brownsville counted tens of thousands of downed limbs in the Valley, and at least 250,000 customers lost power. After a storm:
- Assume every downed line is live.
- Don't drive over downed lines or through water that touches them.
- Report trees on lines to the utility before calling a tree service.
- Take photos for your insurance company from a safe distance.
Prevent problems before they start
- Plant small trees under lines. Trees that grow tall don't belong under power lines.
- Trim before hurricane season, which starts June 1, so dead branches don't end up on the lines.
- Report branches growing toward the lines to the utility early, before they touch.
Sources
- Texas Health & Safety Code, Chapter 752
- AEP Texas – Tree trimming
- KRGV – AEP and MVEC outages across the Rio Grande Valley
- NWS Brownsville – Hurricane Hanna
Related
Tree service in McAllen, Edinburg and Harlingen.
Tree near a line but not touching it?
Once the electric company has handled anything on their lines, call a local tree pro for the rest of the job.