Temporary Disconnection for Tree Work
If a tree being pruned or removed is located close to your home's service wires, it might be necessary to temporarily disconnect your power for safety reasons. If so, you will be notified in person or by a door card of when the disconnection is expected to take place and how long it will last.
Sometimes a property owner wants to perform - or hire a private contractor to perform - tree pruning or removal not related to our vegetation management efforts. In such cases, safety requirements established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (known as OSHA Requirements) for the tree care industry must be followed. This is particularly important when tree work takes place near electric lines and equipment. In such cases, safety guidelines may require power lines to be temporarily disconnected until the work is completed. To help in such situations, we offer a Temporary Disconnect Service at your request for a nominal fee.
To request a temporary disconnection, please contact us or call your FirstEnergy electric operating company several business days in advance. Be sure to specify the street address where the disconnection is needed and the time frame requested. We will conduct an on-site inspection and, if necessary, set up an appointment to provide the temporary disconnection.
Safety Requirements & Standards
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) and the American National Standards Institute's (ANSI) Z133.1-1994 provide safety requirements for:
- pruning, repairing, maintaining and removing trees,
- cutting brush, and
- the use of equipment in such operations
You can find more information at www.osha.gov or www.ansi.org.
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