Safety First

Members should not attempt to trim trees near high-voltage power lines. A tree touching a power line can become energized, resulting in serious injury, or even death, for anyone who comes into contact. 

Kiamichi Electric Cooperative operates on a 5-year schedule for herbicide and tree-trimming to ensure all 5,000+ miles of our electric line are maintained. If you are experiencing service problems due to vegetation, please call us at 918-465-2338. 

  • The property owner is responsible for maintaining clearance around the line that runs from the meter to the home. Although the voltage through a service drop is much lower than the voltage through our grid, it is still dangerous. We strongly recommend hiring a professional tree service to do this trimming. 

  • Only tree trimming companies approved by KEC and have met OSHA qualifications may trim trees away from high-voltage power lines. These professionals should comply with all applicable safety regulations and take appropriate precautions. If you have a dead tree or plan to have work done on a tree closer than 10 feet to the power line, please contact KEC for a safety inspection and approved contractors. 

 

Vegetation Management Regulations, Specifications, and Definitions 

 

Kiamichi Electric follows the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 standard Practices endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture, the National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Arborist Association. 

Those practices require tree trimmers to cut branches back to the parent limb. This enables the pruning cuts to close more rapidly, reducing the chances of insect and disease damage and promoting a healthier regrowth of the branches directed away from the power lines. 

Pruning considerations include:

  • Tree species

  • Growth and regrowth rates 

  • Proximity to power lines

  • Power line voltage 

  • Type of power line construction 

  • Length of pruning cycle

  • Natural tree shape and branching pattern

  • General tree condition and appearance after pruning



How Can Our Members Help? 

KEC supports the philosophy of “the right tree in the right place” as a means of having a more attractive community to live in and a more dependable electrical system to serve our members. Our members can take several relatively simple steps to assist KEC in properly maintaining power line easements: 

  • Keep the easement clear of debris and obstacles which create an obstruction. 

  • Plan trees out of the easement so they will not cause a problem with power lines. 

  • Place all plants and landscaping at a sufficient distance from underground electrical equipment to allow access by KEC personnel. 

  • Stay clear of areas where KEC clearing activities are occurring. 

  • Please treat our crews with respect. Our crews are there to perform their job and are required to treat everyone they come in contact with courteously and respectfully. If there is a concern, our crews are instructed to contact a supervisor to assist in resolving the concern. 

  • Report any hazardous trees you see to our Vegetation Management Department so we can determine if the tree needs to be removed. 

We look forward to working with all our members to continue providing safe, economical and reliable electric service. Please contact us at 918-465-2338 ext 5619 with any questions or concerns you might have 

 
 

2024 ROW AREAS