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Tree Trimming Near Power Lines in Diamond Springs

Branches growing into the wires? Call us at (530) 238-3614. We'll find out which line it is and get a local tree pro out to your Diamond Springs home if it's one you're responsible for.

First, the safety part. Got a branch resting on a wire, or a wire on the ground? Keep away and dial 911. Don't call a tree pro for that.

Not every wire is PG&E's job

Look up at the pole by your house. There are usually three kinds of wire on it, and PG&E explains who handles each.

• Distribution lines sit at the top of the wood pole. They carry high voltage around the neighborhood. PG&E keeps trees clear of these.
• Communication lines hang lower. Phone, cable and internet run on those. PG&E leaves each provider to look after its own.
• The service drop is the wire that runs from the pole to your house. PG&E says property owners are responsible for keeping it clear of plants and of dead or hazardous trees.

So that wire running to your eave? That one's on you. It's the line a lot of people don't realize they own the trimming for.

The free disconnect for your service drop

Here's the good news. If you need tree work near your service drop, PG&E will cut your power briefly so the work is safe. It costs nothing. Request it on PG&E's Start/Stop Service page.

Line it up ahead of time with your pro. They'll know how long they need. It's way better than someone working a saw next to a live wire.

PG&E is blunt about the risk. Touching a power line can cause serious injury or death. They say only trained, line clearance-qualified workers with the right tools should do tree work near power lines. And during yard work, keep your body and tools at least 10 feet away.

What PG&E does on the big lines

For the high-voltage lines up top, PG&E runs its own program. Each year its crews inspect about 100,000 miles of lines. They trim or remove more than 1.5 million trees.

The clearance they keep depends on where you live. PG&E lists at least 18 inches around distribution wires in normal areas. In High Fire-Threat Districts it's 4 feet. The CPUC draws those district lines. PG&E also says it trims past the minimum, so trees don't grow into lines between yearly visits.

If they plan work on your property, you might get a call, text, email, visit or door hanger. Trees that need work usually get marked with paint or ribbon. PG&E says crews usually come back within a few months after the inspection.

After PG&E trims your tree

Two things surprise people. One is the shape. PG&E uses directional trimming, which trains the tree to grow away from the line. It can look lopsided. PG&E says that doesn't hurt the tree's health.

The other is the wood. Branches under 4 inches thick get chipped and hauled off when it's safe, or cut up and spread on site. Bigger wood gets left on your property. PG&E says that wood belongs to the property owner. So you might want someone to cut it up or haul it, and that's a job we can set up.

Poles with gear on them

Some poles carry equipment like transformers. State law PRC 4292 covers some of those during fire season, in areas where CAL FIRE handles fire protection. PG&E says the law calls for a 10-foot circle of clearing around the pole. Limbs within that circle come off from the ground up to 8 feet. Dead or dying limbs come off from 8 feet up to the top of the lines.

Not sure if any of this applies to your place? PG&E's number for questions about its lines and poles is 1-800-743-5000.

What trimming near lines costs

For PG&E's own high-voltage lines, you don't hire anybody. Their crews handle those trees as part of their safety program.

For your service drop, or a tree that's near the lines but not touching them, you pay like any other trim. Homeyou says limbs near power lines are among the jobs that cost the most to reach.

Sources: Homeyou tree trimming guide (Nov. 2026); HomeGuide tree trimming costs (2026); PG&E vegetation management page (2026).

The pro looks at the job and quotes it before anything happens. Ask if the price includes the time spent waiting on the disconnect.

Why call us

Most people aren't sure which wire is which. That's fine. Tell us what you see and we'll help you sort out if it's a PG&E job or yours.

If it's yours, we find a local pro who does work near service lines and set up the visit. No charge for the call.

Step by step

1. Call (530) 238-3614. Tell us which wire the branches are near: top of the pole, middle, or the one to your house.
2. If it's PG&E's line, we'll point you to them.
3. If it's your service drop, we set up a visit with a tree pro.
4. The pro quotes the job and helps you time the free PG&E disconnect.
5. The work gets done with the power off, and the power comes back on.

Planting something new near a pole? PG&E says to call 811 at least two working days before you dig. They'll mark buried lines for free.

Related: branches over the roof and crown thinning and raising.