Did you know that the leading cause of power outages is fallen trees and branches? 

That’s why AEP Ohio has a comprehensive program to manage trees and brush that grow around our lines and equipment—and it’s been shown to improve the reliability of our service. In fact, our maintenance program has reduced tree-related outages by 80% since 2009. 

As part of our efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to ensure the health and safety of both our customers and crews, we have tree crews who are well trained and equipped in COVID-19 prevention. We are taking extra precautions and have temporarily suspended face-to-face meetings with customers. However, our forestry crews will continue to trim and clear trees — this maintenance work is critical to keeping your power flowing.

We know you love your trees. We love them, too. We promise to treat your property with respect and care as we work to prevent tree-related power outages. Trees are trimmed to provide at least 10 feet of clearance from power lines. This distance helps prevent contact during most storms, ensures public safety, access for maintenance and allows for re-growth.

If work is scheduled on your property, we’ll attempt to call you in advance. Please be sure the contact information on your account is up-to-date: AEPOhio.com/Account.

Visit AEPOhio.com/Trees for more information or to get in touch with our forestry team.

97 responses to “Reducing Tree-Related Power Outages

  1. Asplundh continues to come on my property unannounced blocking entrances rutting up ground fouling drainage ditches. Keep them on RIGHT OF WAYS

    1. Steven, thank you for bringing this to our attention. A representative from our forestry team will be in contact with you this week.

  2. I have a tree growing into the electric line that runs to my house from the transformer. But the tree is not out by the road. Is there anything that AEP can do to cut the branches out of the line?

    1. Hi Stephanie, thank you for contacting us. I have forwarded your question to our forestry team for follow up. They will reach out to you by end of the day Wednesday.

  3. We have a tree that needs taken down or trimmed way back from the inbound power line. No one wants to do it for fear of hitting the line. Is this something your crew could do for a reasonable fee? Thank you.

    1. Hi Samuel, we appreciate your commitment to safety and for reaching out to us. Our forestry team is going to look into this situation for you. Stay tuned for an update from a representative this week.

    1. Hi Connie, we appreciate you writing in with your concern and will forward your information to a representative from our forestry team for follow up. They will be in touch soon.

  4. The silver maple on my tree lawn threatens the lines to my neighbor’s house & mine. Is this my responsibility or will your crews clear this imminant danger?

    1. Hi Joy, I completely understand your concern. I have forwarded your question to our forestry team and a representative will be in contact soon to discuss this situation with you. Thank you.

  5. AEP came through our area last summer but left the worst tree standing. It is a dead ash tree that if it falls could take our service and the other neighbors on this line. With the amount of rain combined with the strong winds we have had it poses a real threat during this stressful time.

    1. Leonard, I understand your concern with this tree. I’m forwarding your comment over to our forestry team for review. A representative will be in contact with you to discuss by end of the day Wednesday. Thank you for contacting us.

  6. We have vines growing on the lines behind my property. You have came out and sprayed the lines but never cleaned them. The lines are now hanging lower and should be cleaned.

    Thanks

    1. Steve, thank you for writing in. Our forestry team is going to take a look into this for you. A representative will be in contact soon.

    2. Are you trimming trees in the Greenbrier Farms are? Our power lines run through the trees behind our home and down the side of our home. The lines to the house are underground but we lose our power a lot. I was told they would be trimmed a few years ago but they were not.

      1. Hi Sharon. I have passed your question along to our forestry team. Someone should be in touch with you shortly to provide an update on this. Sorry for any inconvenience this has been causing you.

  7. Can you cut all of the branches of our tree when you get to do again. PLEASE I’m so afraid that tree is going to fall one day with this bad storms. If you cut all branches of we well disposed of them do all cleaning all I ask if you cut off all every single branch off. Thank you

    1. Hey Frank, I’d be glad to send your request to the forestry team. Be on the look out for a follow up from a representative soon.

  8. Trees were marked to be cut down in September 2019. I would like to
    Schedule those trees to be cut down

    1. Hi Margaret, thank you for bringing this to our attention. I forwarding this to the forestry team to look into. Stay tuned for a follow up by end of the day Wednesday.

  9. Hi, the Write tree company took down trees in are area about a year ago. I have a couple trees on my property they said they were going to cut down but they didn’t. Both trees are leaning hard towards the power line and one is dead. Is someone able to come back out and take down the trees they missed? They aren’t that big so it shouldn’t take long. Thanks.

    1. Hey Adam, we can definitely look into this for you. I’m sending your information to our forestry team for follow up. A representative will be in contact with you soon.

  10. I contacted AEP last fall regarding getting some tree limbs trimmed that were to close to the power lines. I was told AEP doesn’t do that. We paid $200 to have a tree trimming company come out and take care of the limbs. Then we get the notification that yes AEP trims tree limbs. To say the least this is upsetting to me as we are on a fixed income.

    1. Hi Tonya, I do apologize and understand how this could upset you. I’m going to forward your comment and information over to our forestry team for review. A representative will be in touch soon to follow up with you.

    1. Hi Wilfred, thank you for contacting us. I’m going to send this over to our forestry team for review. They will be reaching out to you soon for follow up.

    1. Hey Rhonda, thank you for reaching out to us. I am forwarding your information to our forestry team for follow up. A representative will in touch soon about your request.

  11. I’m glad to hear this S I have several pine trees along the property line and there are wires up there that I worry about. Thank you

    1. Hi Virginia, thank you for letting us know about your concern. We can certainly have our forestry team take a look into this for you. Stay tuned for a follow up this week.

    1. Hi Sean, I am forwarding your question to our forestry team for follow up. They will be in touch soon with a response on work being done and to answer any other questions you may have.

  12. Need trees in front and back of house trimmed. Please contact me at 614-582-3895. Thank u you.
    Mary King

    1. Hi Mary. We absolutely will contact you. Give us another day or so and we will have some questions for you. Thanks for your note.

  13. My neighbor at 300 W. Kanawha Ave Columbus OH has a stand of bamboo and an enormous tree that is hanging on my power line. They are never required to do anything about it. When my power line is stretched and pulled it makes the transformer at the pole shake. Eventually it will bring the transformer down. Is this something about which AEP has any care?

    1. Hi Lisa. I don’t want to give you an incorrect answer without fully understanding your situation. I promise that a forestry representative will be in touch soon with some follow-up questions. Thank you for writing to us!

    1. Hi Cheryl. Yes, keeping our power lines free from tree limbs and other vegetation is a necessary part of keeping your lights on. For more information about our tree trimming program, go here: aepohio.com/info/TreeTrimming/FAQs.aspx

  14. I think the cost of trimming trees both as a preventative and clean up after trees fall and cause power outages should be billed to the land owner. Why do all AEP customers have to pay for this work? Most of us maintain our properties. If we have large trees this can become expensive, but it is our responsibility as land owners. Some procrastinate or frankly never intend to maintain their trees. Just don’t understand why we all have to subsidize this when it is very simple to identify who owns the property and tack it onto their bill. Allow the responsible property owner to pay the tree maintenance bill over time. Losing electric service would be a good incentive to prioritize reimbursing AEP. And, it would also make landowners think twice before letting a small maintenance issue become a huge expense and an inconvenience for themselves and their neighbors who have to do without power.

  15. They was supposed to trim the branches from my power line running to my house, there is a pretty big branch on the line. Your supposed repairman pulled up,looked at it, broke two small branches with his hands and then left. That was weeks ago. They trimmed all my neighbors trees, even went several yards into my neighbors yard to trim a Bush??? I mean really. I’m a disabled War Vet, I cant do it.

    1. I’m not sure what’s going on here, Bruce, and I apologize if we didn’t handle this properly. I have passed your message on to our forestry team and you should expect a response by tomorrow at the latest. Thank you for your patience — and also for your service!

  16. I just recently bout this property late 2018. there is some trees growing into the lines. Some of the limbs are rubbing the lines. I would like to have them totaly removed before they break the lines. There is a transformer on the pole too.

    1. Hi Ronald, thanks for letting us know. We will be happy to look into it. I passed your note on to our forestry group and they will be touch with you soon to investigate this issue further.

  17. There is an AEP line at the back of my property. I had the trees removed because of the line. However my neighbors trees are growing up and into the lines. I have called and emailed 3 times about this I will be highly upset if I lose power over this. There is no clearance. You can’t see the lines the the trees have taken over

  18. I am always frustrated when they trim trees….they are hacked to death and limbs, sticks, wood is left scattered all over my yard! I would prefer to PAY my tree guy to do it and to balance out the tree so it won’t die!

  19. I moved into my house in January of this year and there is a big tree in the back yard that does have a wire going right through it. I don’t know if this is an electric wire or not. Would someone need to come over to look at it?

    1. Thanks for writing, Jodi. We can look into it. A forestry representative will be in touch soon to learn a little more about this.

  20. One of the trees in my back yard now has a daub of blue paint on it.

    Is there some significance to this?

    1. Hi Harold. We will have to know more about where you live and what your situation is. A forestry representative will contact you right away with some follow up questions.

  21. I have a pole that a tree intertwines through and was wondering if I could schedule a trimming? Or schedule someone to come look at it at least.

    1. Hey Jordan. A forestry representative is now aware of this issue and will contact you soon. Thanks for letting us know.

  22. Re: Tree trimming investigation order # 10737870. A 3 inch Sweetgum limb is laying on the neighbor’s power line in the AEP easement to the rear of our property. I have emailed this concern to you in an email in November 2019. I was given the above order # and told you would be contacting me on this. Since I did not hear from you I have emailed you twice. You acknowledged that you received the requests but as yet I still have not heard back from you with an answer. My AEP account # is 102-322-980-8-2. My cell phone # is 614-515-7029.

    1. David, I’m really sorry you have emailed twice and not received a response. That’s unacceptable. I don’t know what was going on but I can tell you that a forestry representative is looking into this now and you should hear from them by tomorrow at the latest. Again, I apologize and I hope we can get this figured out. Thanks for being patient.

  23. Weeks ago the crew was a few houses from me and heading my way. Then they stayed in one yard almost a day cutting down a whole tree. They came back that week but never did come to clear branches from trees in my back yard. Could you get them to come back? There are several branches around wires. I’d really appreciate it. I’m disabled and a renter and can’t do this for myself. Thanks.

    1. I’ll see what I can do, Ruthie. I sent your note to our forestry team and you should expect to hear from someone right away about this.

  24. God bless your crews and may they stay healthy and safe. Thank you and those hard working crews and other employees

  25. I would love to see the tree trimmers do a better job trimming the trees. Much of the time the trees are butchered so much on one side that the tree is not attractive or ends up dying.

    1. Hi Kim. I am so sorry you aren’t happy with our tree trimming. Expect to hear from one of our representatives shortly so we can find out more about happened.

  26. I have a big pine tree that I would like for you to come and cut down 422 Holdren Rd Little Hocking Ohio 45742

    1. Thanks for letting us know, Leroy. I have sent your request to our forestry group and you should be hearing from us shortly.

  27. We have a tree in our front yard that you took half of Down about 3 years ago. It has now grown back into the power lines once again. We would like for you just to take the entire tree down now. This will save both of us issues in the future. Is this something you still do?

    1. Hi Rae. Thanks for alerting us. This is something for our foresters to investigate more closely. I have sent along your note and you will be contacted shortly about possible next steps.

  28. I received a notice laying in my front ditch that my trees should expect trimming. You trimmed trees last year. I tried calling to see exactly what they plan on doing. No one has answered and the mailbox is full.

    1. Brad, I am so very sorry no one returned your call. I am not sure what happened. I can tell you that your message has been passed along to our forestry team and you should expect to hear from someone soon about your trees. Thanks for being patient.

    1. Hi Virginia. We will certainly try not to interfere with your 40-year-old tree if we can. A representative from our forestry team will be in touch with you soon to follow up.

  29. I was told by a tree crew last year that a couple of trees on my property would be trimmed to keep them away from my transformer and power lines that run along the edge of the property, 400 feet from the street pole. Nothing has transpired. What’s up?

    1. Hey James. I’m not sure what’s going on here, and I apologize for not knowing more. I have passed your message on to our forestry team and they should be in touch with you no later than tomorrow with answers.

  30. Is tree trimming the reason we now have an ugly wire going across the front of our homes in Wesleyan Woods?

    Thank you

    1. Hi Earl. Without checking out your situation it’s hard to know what’s going on. I have notified our forestry team so they can get in touch with you. Thanks.

  31. There are a row of trees here that have not been cut that I can see are in the power lines. Most are pine trees and there is no road access. They desperately need cut out of the power lines. They set behind my house located at 112 Cherry street Powhatan Point, Ohio 43942

    1. Hi Tommie. Thanks for letting us know. I have alerted our forestry group and they will be in touch with you soon.

  32. Dead tree on our service line to our home needs removed, with all the spring storms we are having I’m surprised it hasn’t taken us out, can we have this tree removed.

    1. Hi Donald. I’m not sure if it can be removed or not but I have sent your request on to our forestry team and they will contact you soon on next steps. Thanks for letting us know.

    1. Sorry about this, Linda. I have passed your note on to our forestry group and someone will be in touch soon to look into this. Thanks.

  33. I called a week ago about trees in power lines and still haven’t received any call or seen anyone working on the trees and powerlines

    1. Sorry to hear about this, Rebecca. I sent your message to our forestry group and someone will contact you no later than tomorrow to get this taken care of.

  34. This is horse crap I called about the trees by my house that run to my place and back to my neighbors houses . Was told not important enough to take care of them.

    1. Hey Jerry. I’m disappointed we couldn’t work this out with you. I’ve sent your message to your forestry team and someone should be in touch with you by tomorrow to get this figured out.

  35. I have three (3) trees. The limbs – branches surround the wires connecting from the poles to the house, You have trimmed these before, they are needing trimmed ASAP – they need to be cut back further this time please.

    1. Hi there. I have passed your inquiry on to our forestry group and you should hear from them shortly. Thanks for letting us know.

  36. My service cable runs through a tree and is being pressed by one of the limbs. Can this be trimmed back? The tree is a neighbors but the limb and my service line are on my property.

    1. Hi Sean. Thanks for your message. I have passed your question on to our forestry group and you should expect to hear from them shortly. Have a nice day.

    1. Hello Ronald. Thanks for letting us know. I have passed your request on to our forestry team and you should be hearing from them soon. Have a nice day!

  37. We have a tree in the back yard that is touching the power line drop to our house again. Currently, we can’t afford to pay AEP $300 plus to drop the line and have the tree cut down. My husband is just recently been disabled and money has been really tight due to that fact. I had asked the last AEP worker that was here to cut the part of the tree away from the power line, but he just trimmed some. Now it is already leaning on the line again for the 3rd time.

    Plus the tree is leaning towards the line heavily and needs to be cut below the power line for anybody to even think about trying to remove the rest. Couldn’t an AEP employee come cut that part of the tree away from that power line?

    1. Hi Angela. Thank you for your question. I have sent it to our forestry team and someone should be in contact soon.

  38. AEP , we on England Hollow are seeing repeated outages for trees in the same area ,constantly , usually twice a month . They come and only cut the one that fell on the line , when you can look two directs and count many dead ash leaning towards the line , that we can see are going to fall in another week or two , and damage poles or splices or gear , and you are called out again to a spot just a couple hundred feet from the last trouble spot . Is the a proactive program to document , by AEP the problematic trees ,list them after tagging ,then directing the contractors to remove said trees , instead of letting the contractors decide ??

    1. Hey James. This is a question for our forestry team — I have sent it to them and you should hear from someone soon. Thanks for reaching out.

  39. HI AEP’
    I have a dead tree that is leaning toward the power line pole. Some of the branches are going thought the line. I live off of Baltimore rd. N.W. and I’m scared that it will also hit a vehicle if it come down. I have called a tree service to cut it down but they are so backed up, I don’t know when they can make it out here. People has told me to contact AEP.

    1. Hi Rebecca,

      Thanks for letting us know. We’ve shared your comment with the forestry team and someone should be in touch shortly.

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