FW Residents: Oncor Took Tree Trimming Too Far

Same thing happened in Carrollton.
It would have looked better if they had cut it down!

People do not understand the danger of the power lines running through trees.

My husband lost his father on Thanksgiving day when he was young. They were getting pecans out of the tree like they had done many times before that had power lines running through it.

Not only did they lose their father but all 4 children ages 6 to 15 had to watch their father die on Thanksgiving day by being electrocuted.

If the electric company would have made sure no limbs where touching the tree, they would not have lost thier father.

the trees look bad!

There is a difference in trimming and butchering trees. From the trees I've seen trimmed by the companies is like a big V has been cut from them. Not only does the tree look ugly, but it can't be good since the weight is on two or three large limbs. The companies say they use a specialist to advise how to do this - but I'm not sure they even know what they are talking about. Trim the whole thing, not cut a hunk out of the middle or off the side. Better yet - put the lines underground - then you don't have to deal with trees, storms, ice, etc.

4-16....I have been on the receiving end of Asplundh's "tree trimming". Who hires them doesn't matter, its still a whack job with no thought to the asthestics of the tree/trees afterward. Yeah, its "for the good of us folks" but for crying out loud can't some consideration be given to what it looks like afterwards. I live not far from this area where they did this latest whack job. Those trees are prime targets for more damage from wind, rain and heavy ice. And if a complaint is made the response is "oh well". Something should be done to enforce some consideration as to how the trees look afterwards!!

argued with them in irving yesterday and lost...they promised to destroy my trees! there is a difference between trim and butcher..i still can't believe that the man from abc tree service contracted by onco sd yes we will destroy your trees!

lights, refrigerator, a/c, heat or a tree thats a tough one.... it will grow back.... and maybe they should have the trees trimmed before they really get out of hand.

This is not the first time that we have gone through this with Asplundh. This company went through our neighborhood last year and butchered MANY trees in just this same fashion. It was sad as to what they had done along Scott Street down near Beach as well the same type of butchering took place along Brentwood Stair near Wilson. Many of these type trees will never survive more the 5 years after doing such a harsh trimming. From what we were told in the past was they perform a five year trim program, which means they trim back enough so they wont have to address the area again for five years. What they are truthfully doing is far beyond. What they are doing is far beyond! I call it the "In five years you'll need to replace this tree" program.

We've noticed this in our area too...Dallas...Walnut Hill, Boedeker, Royal, Hillcrest. It looks terrible!...like a tree in my dad's yard in Carrollton that just got destroyed by the storm last week...he's had an arborist come in and tell him it has to be trimmed up and weight taken off parts now since the middle was destroyed...looks like these trees are going to need the same thing. Was wondering if the people whose property these trees are on were given any notice and the opportunity to do something about it before their trees got butchered? Funny thing is that my husband said while driving through the Park Cities recently he hadn't noticed any of the trees having been butchered there. Are their trees more important than those in our neigborhood, or has the chainsaw just not made it's way there yet.

Kinda like the chicken and the egg.

Which one came first, the power lines or the trees?

People who plant trees near power lines are asking for the trim process.

Oncor has an easement. They could remove the whole tree if they wanted to. On your deed it says subject to easements right-of-ways, etc. Our forefathers gave away that right years ago. If you don't want your trees trimmed to prevent power outages or killing some kid in a tree, then you should buy land without easments and then fight when they want to put the power lines in your yard. Not much you can do. As gready as Oncor has become, I am suprised they don't send the property owners a bill for the cost associated with trimming the trees. Maybe soon!

ABC is doing the cutting here in Irving right this minute and they too are butcherung trees. My neighbor has a large tree that they have now cut so much off of one side I'm scared if we have more wind it'll fall on our houses. Some trees they cut down to just above the fence. If they were going to leave a mess I'd prefer they cut them down completely.

ONCOR STOOPS TO NEW LOW, THREATS TO HOMEOWNERS
I arrived home today to find Asphlund cutting the top out of a 7-foot tall Peach tree not to mention the numerous other trees they totally Butchered. I now have 2 large trees in my yard that have been reduced to a stump 6 foot tall, and another a stump with one limb protruding towards my house.
I had a discussion with the Asphlund supervisor, and he assured me there would be no more cutting in my yard. As we were leaving the back-yard Patrick Hogan with ONCOR.( a so called arborist, or so it claims on his business card) drove up he introduced himself and asked what the problem was. I explained to him that I was unhappy with the fact the cut the top out of 7 foot tall peach tree, not to mention the Butchering of the other trees, but the Asphlund supervisor and myself had already worked it out.
He then demanded to be let in my back-yard to see what the problem was all about, and that he wanted to measure the tree height from the line. I told him I had a large dog in the yard and he could not enter. He then demanded that I put the dog up or tie him up so he could enter, I then basically told him just how he had now cross the line of being welcome.
He then proceeded to tell me that he worked for ONCOR and that he had the right to enter my yard without permission anytime they wanted, and if I didn’t contain the dog and let him in he would call the police. Then is when you could say folks I blew a gasket.
I told him he basically had 2 choices 1. Go back on the other side of the back fence and do what you need to do where all the trucks were parked working , or 2. Try to get past me and call the police.
So he returned to the other side of the fence, when a few minutes later my neighbor came home and saw what they had done and, was literally in tears over it. I heard her talking to Patrick Hogan and she told him to stay off her property. A few minutes later two police officers arrived.
ONCOR is now the biggest bullies on the block and they need to be put in there place.
I am only hoping that enough people will speak out and something can be done, and what ever happened to the meaning private property. Or when NO means NO.
J. White Settlement, Texas

Oncor is supposed to give 5 days notice, allow an option for the customer to hire a professional trimmer who is certified to trim near power lines and allow an option to pay for burial of lines. We were given none of these. Last Sunday they cut all the limbs on one side of our 18 year old pecan off from top to bottom. It looks awful. We were home hauling branches from the storm damage on 4/10 when they came, but not even a knock on the door, nothing. They claim during storm mode no notice is necessary. I'm fuming!!!

They did the same here in HEB area (Wright Tree Service).
I would like to get enough people together and maybe file a Class Action Suit for damages to the Trees and future electric bills.
I had no idea that their 10ft easement over-rides the 8ft off the curb. They were in the middle of my yard butchering a 75 yr old Oak Tree.
Maybe a Class Action Lawsuit against the PUC and TXU and Oncor could change some things...

What kind of friggin genius plants trees directly under power lines? Oncor shoulda shopped em completely down and billed the morons who planted em. Its because of these morons that planted those trees that my power goes out when the wind starts blowing - DUH!

J - White Settlement wrote:

ONCOR STOOPS TO NEW LOW, THREATS TO HOMEOWNERS
I arrived home today to find Asphlund cutting the top out of a 7-foot tall Peach tree not to mention the numerous other trees they totally Butchered. I now have 2 large trees in my yard that have been reduced to a stump 6 foot tall, and another a stump with one limb protruding towards my house.
I had a discussion with the Asphlund supervisor, and he assured me there would be no more cutting in my yard. As we were leaving the back-yard Patrick Hogan with ONCOR.( a so called arborist, or so it claims on his business card) drove up he introduced himself and asked what the problem was. I explained to him that I was unhappy with the fact the cut the top out of 7 foot tall peach tree, not to mention the Butchering of the other trees, but the Asphlund supervisor and myself had already worked it out.
He then demanded to be let in my back-yard to see what the problem was all about, and that he wanted to measure the tree height from the line. I told him I had a large dog in the yard and he could not enter. He then demanded that I put the dog up or tie him up so he could enter, I then basically told him just how he had now cross the line of being welcome.
He then proceeded to tell me that he worked for ONCOR and that he had the right to enter my yard without permission anytime they wanted, and if I didn’t contain the dog and let him in he would call the police. Then is when you could say folks I blew a gasket.
I told him he basically had 2 choices 1. Go back on the other side of the back fence and do what you need to do where all the trucks were parked working , or 2. Try to get past me and call the police.
So he returned to the other side of the fence, when a few minutes later my neighbor came home and saw what they had done and, was literally in tears over it. I heard her talking to Patrick Hogan and she told him to stay off her property. A few minutes later two police officers arrived.
ONCOR is now the biggest bullies on the block and they need to be put in there place.
I am only hoping that enough people will speak out and something can be done, and what ever happened to the meaning private property. Or when NO means NO.
J. White Settlement, Texas

Are you familiar with the term "utility easement" ? Look up section 181.102 of the Texas Utilities Code. Oncor has every right, under law, to enter your property at any time, with or without your permission. Dont like it? Tough!

There a quite a few morons in here that not only need to spell but, could take note of what people are saying.

Oncor does not have the right to enter yout property if the easment isn't on your property. That is what an alley is for. trees 22 feet inside my property are not in any easement.

Bobby Ray your an IDIOT! Look it up.
Here's YOUR SIGN !

Our trees were not planted directly under the power lines. The Oncor arborist admitted that more than the required 10 feet was removed stating stubs can't be left and collar cuts must be made. I would have been happy to pay for a professionally certified trimmer to trim them away from the lines or to have paid for cable burial, as would many of our neighbors. However, we were not given any options as we should have been according to a Oncor's specifications. BTW, it is possible to express your opinion in a mature fashion without personally slamming people.

They will grow back, trees are very robust, yeah right now they don't look great, the will fill back during these warmer months. granted the may have taken more out then what they needed to, but they will revive and fill back in again and probably in a couple of years they will do it again.