Tree branches need pruning - touching hydro or utility wires

Contact Toronto Hydro to request clearing of branches in hydro lines that run along (parallel) the road.

Toronto Hydro will assess whether the lines are theirs and if there is an imminent threat to public safety or equipment reliability. Non-urgent requests will be handled in the regular maintenance cycle for City trees.

  • Note: If the tree resides on your private property and is near a hydro line, you should hire a qualified arborist who is licensed to work on trees around power lines.

Select the link under related information for other types of pruning related to City trees.

Toronto Hydro and Hydro One undertake pruning of trees away from hydro wires to prevent contact between the trees and wires which could result in power failures and possibly allow electricity to flow to the ground. Pruning by utility companies should be done in accordance with good arboriculture practice. In some locations, Toronto Hydro uses Hendrix tree wire in some areas of the city. The superior insulation of this wire allows for soft contact with tree branches. Toronto Hydro would know what type of wire is used in different locations.

Hydro wires pose an immediate concern if insulation is broken by rubbing or hanging branches. Bell / Cable wires are sometimes confused with hydro wires. If insulation is broken by rubbing or hanging branches, service could be disrupted but the fact that branches come in contact with wires does not result in a hazard.

If the tree is in your front or back yard (on your private property) and it is:

  1. Interfering with Bell Telephone lines, contact Bell Canada if service is interrupted. If service is not interrupted contact a certified arborist.
  2. Interfering with Cable lines, call Rogers Customer Service line.
  3. Interfering with hydro service lines (hydro lines running to the house), contact a certified arborist.
  4. Not interfering with utility lines, contact a certified arborist.  

Note: The City of Toronto will clear phone and cable lines while performing regular maintenance on City trees.

Clean-up of an area after pruning of a City tree by Toronto Hydro:

  • Contact Toronto Hydro if brush was left from regular tree maintenance
  • Contact 311 if the brush was left due to emergency City tree trimming (i.e. storm, wind etc.)

If a private tree was trimmed by Toronto Hydro during an emergency situation, clean-up of the tree trimmings is the homeowner's responsibility.