Uprooted Town Tree on Power Line

Thursday afternoon I noticed that a town tree on the berm in front of my house had partially uprooted during the wet weather last week and is now leaning on a power line.  

I called PSEG on Thursday to report the problem.   No-one called me back or came out.  I called again on Friday and again explained the problem and the customer service rep said "We don't do trees".  I called back today and the rep said a technician had been out later on Friday and the note for the case says "It's fine".   I do not think it's fine.  I spoke with a supervisor and she took my number and said someone would call me when they were coming back out.  

I called the town twice, but apparently they won't do anything to the tree because it is on the power lines.  

If the tree comes down, it's going to destroy a very nice tall old spruce (probably 50+ years old) on my property and could take out my garage and/or shed depending on which way it falls.

How do I get someone to do something about the tree?  Also, if the tree falls, who pays for the damage and the hassle I'm going to go through replacing damaged structures.  I went to a lot of trouble and expense to repair the leaning garage and replaced the old metal shed with a nice new one.  The tree is not going to be replaceable.   

I'm surprised by PSE&G's attitude because this same thing happened last winter and the tree was gone within hours.

Photos below.   Many thanks in advance for ideas.



Is that a town tree? If so I think they will help you out. My tree that is on the berm is a town tree.


Hi emmie -- Thanks.  Yes, I believe any of the trees on the berm belong to the town.  I've written an email to the mayor and the director of public works, and I think to the PSE&G people who seem to be responsible for trees in this region.  I linked to this thread.  Hopefully, someone can give me some sort of definitive answer.  


By the way, the power line has actually stopped the tree from damaging my property, and for that I am grateful.  However, some of the flippant responses from PSE&G are not at all amusing.  Also, the complete lack of any definitive response as to timing and responsibility is really annoying.


Complain to the Public Services Utilities Commission.  They provide funding for public utilities.  You may get some satisfaction from them.


As I see it, you have two separate issues, one impacting PSE&G and the other impacting the town.  PSE&G currently has their tree trimming company working in town to cut back trees whose branches are within 18 inches of a power line.  If the tree you describe is literally tangled in the power line, PSE&G should be able to add the tree to the list of those their contractor is currently working on.  The other issue is whether the tree is in immediate danger of collapse.  That is an issue for the shade tree section within DPW.  Now that Todd is retired, I am not sure that the town has an arborist on staff.  However, they must at least have someone on call who would be able to take a look and determine if the tree is in danger of coming down at this point.  I have seen trees remain healthy and leaning for years with no apparent danger to anyone/anything and others that seem perfectly erect fall for no apparent reason.  For insurance purposes, I would suggest sending a registered letter to town, keeping a copy for yourself, indicating that the tree appears to posing immediate danger of falling on your property.  Then, it the tree should fall they would be responsible for repairing the damage.  Otherwise, it would be your responsibility to pay for it.


There needs to be coordination between PSE & G and the town tree removal staff. The power must be shut off for an hour or two while the tree is removed. This sounds simple but it took me four months to get P.S. and the county to arrange to get the two services to work together. My tree in question was on Irvington Avenue so it was a county tree service issue.


Regarding the letter to the town, I would address it to the town attorney and include reference to danger of electrocution should a live wire hit the ground while a person is near --- duplicate letter to P.S.E. & G. legal department. 





All:  Many thanks for all these ideas.  Much appreciated.  A representative of the town came out late on Saturday afternoon, checked out the situation, and discussed it with me.   DPW is going to visit on Monday and see what can be done on the town's end of this.   Joan and Jack -- I like the idea of a letter going out to PSE&G and the town attorney.  I will also send a copy to my insurance company.     


I would not send a letter to the insurance company. The response may be a cancellation letter. Rather, visit (no email) your agent and ask about the protection you have, or don't have.


A man from Asplundh once explained it to me. Potential for electrocution exists, even if no live wire comes down. All it takes is a tiny break in wire insulation (squirrel; other trauma), and the tree is live.  If something happens now, there's no excuse, and this discussion is fodder for the legal team.



dickf3
said:

A man from Asplundh once explained it to me. Potential for electrocution exists, even if no live wire comes down. All it takes is a tiny break in wire insulation (squirrel; other trauma), and the tree is live.  If something happens now, there's no excuse, and this discussion is fodder for the legal team.

I never thought of that.  I really hope nothing like that happens.  I'll try to get some of my neighbors to call too.  There's lots of little kids that live right on my corner, and they often cut through my backyard to each other's houses.  

I wish I had access to the recording "that may be made for quality control purposes" of the rep saying "We don't do trees".


An email "complaint" to NJ BPU usually produces the desired result.  Quickly.  A call to them may be possible, too. But first try PSEG (the "and" has been dropped, according to WBGO) - Mr. Hagglund's cell was 973-365-6907 (still may be). He will understand. They are the entity that needs to act

The Mayor is also on the Public Safety Committee - now is not too late to call him,  for a followup chat on yesterday's email. 


Thanks dickf3.  You seem to have inside insight about situations like this.  Mr. Hagglund was on my cc list.  I don't know if his celll was on the PSEG website.

What is NJ BPU?

Many thanks for your insightful comments.


Town should take care of tree--it is theirs. PSEG does prune trees that threaten transformers--they have repeatedly come to our property to do so. 


Bob Hagglund 973 748 5193


NJBPU  Board of public utilities.


Update... a large branch of the tree is now tightly stretching the wire. The wire is more likely to be snapped before the tree goes down. 


I will try to post photos later.


Thanks quercus.  I tried that number this morning, but it's been disconnected.  

Jack -- many thanks as well for all the help.


My mom had a dying county tree that was being ignored for years even though it was rotting.  PSE&G said it was county's problem, county wouldn't touch it because it was in the wires.  Repeated emails were met with such stupidity as "we sent someone out and the tree is fine."  

What finally worked was sending emails, with pictures, explaining the problem and stating that I was keeping the emails to prove they had been informed of the issue in case there was any property damage, injury, or loss of life, that occurred if/when the tree fell down so that they could be found liable in court.  Suddenly the tree was found to be dangerous and was taken down in short order. The a55holes never came back to remove the stump, but at least it is no longer a danger. 


Thanks, spon.  I'm getting ready to email again.  I've hung around this morning on the chance someone would come by.  Nobody so far.  Also no phone call, no response from PSEG to my email.   This just seems very weird. The tree is clearly stretching the line. I don't get how that can be fine. 

I poked around the township website a little but didn't find the name of the lawyer who represents the town. 


Town tree consultant is here.  Tree taped off. PSEG on the way!  Yay!  Thank you everyone!


A very impressive truck just pulled up.


Yay!   Your persistence has paid off.


So glad to read that the problem is being addressed.


Yes, I'm relieved.  


We have a house in Ulster County, NY. The utility company is Central Hudson. It came up our street a couple of weeks ago and cut back some trees and cut down some trees. Their tolerance for proximity to power lines is a lot higher than what I saw in Maplewood. In other words, they want trees to be farther from power lines than PSEG will tolerate. The result looks rather brutal, but it's for a good cause. Actually, there are two causes: safety and reliability of power.

Interestingly, the tree company they contracted is also Asplundh. My wife and I had fun trying to pronounce it literally.



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