DTE Begins 2-Month Tree Trimming Push

DETROIT (WWJ) - DTE Energy crews will be out in many local communities over the next two months to trim trees to improve electrical service and safety, especially in the event of inclement weather.

"Our goal is to keep customers' trees alive, healthy and out of harm's way," said Vince Dow, DTE Energy vice president of Distribution Operations, in a release out Monday.

Talking to WWJ Newsradio 950, DTE spokesman Len Singer said fallen limbs and tree branches account for two-thirds of all power outages.

He said crews will clear trees from what they call the distribution lines, which are the lines that run along the right-of-way near someone's property. "A homeowner's responsibility for clearing tree limbs is for what we call the service line that goes between the utility pole and their house. And that is the customer's responsibility to make sure that the trees are not interfering with those power lines," Singer said.

Singer said if limbs are encroaching a homeowner's service lines, for safety purposes, they recommend using a professional tree trimming service.

DTE is also encouraging residents who have dead ash trees on their property to consider having them removed.

"They have virtually no root structure and no strength to them and in storms we're finding the trees that are 40 and 50 feet away are falling down into power lines and causing power outages and creating a hazard," said Singer.

Singer said this current phase of tree trimming will last about two months, then other communities will be visited and serviced on a rotating basis.

Those with questions about the line clearance work in your neighborhood are urged to call DTE's Customer Service Line at 800-477-4747. Visit dteenergy.com/treetrim for more information.