Updated January 15, 2021
Utility Pruning and Removal of Street/Roadside Trees
Contact: GCNHtreesandpower@gmail.com
PURA Final Decision: UI's Targeted Risk Management program limited.
On January 13, 2020 the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority ("PURA") issued a Final Decision in Docket No. 18-12-25 that directed United Illuminating to modify its Targeted Risk Management (TRM) program: [T]he TRM program shall not be used as an alternative or replacement to UPZ [pruning] to achieve tree line clearance for 4 to 5 years. In summary, the Authority concludes that subsection (e) of Conn. Gen. Stat. 16-234 only authorizes an electric distribution company to perform vegetation management where there is direct contact and visible signs of burning and that only the minimum level of pruning be done to resolve the offense." (See link to full Final Decision below for details and other issues addressed.) GCNH argued for such an interpretation of subsection (e) in comments made to PURA. Eversource must also comply with this interpretation when it does direct contact pruning pursuant to subsection (e).
Under this decision, United Illuminating cannot continue to use TRM to avoid the normal requirements of the law that it obtain a permit from municipal tree wardens and notify abutting property owners before pruning or removing trees within the Utility Protection Zone (UPZ) surrounding its electric distribution wires.
GCNH documents filed with PURA in 18-12-25 and three news articles about the issue are also below. (Note that the docket number on the first two comments should be 18-12-25, not 18-25-12.)
Contact: GCNHtreesandpower@gmail.com
PURA Final Decision: UI's Targeted Risk Management program limited.
On January 13, 2020 the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority ("PURA") issued a Final Decision in Docket No. 18-12-25 that directed United Illuminating to modify its Targeted Risk Management (TRM) program: [T]he TRM program shall not be used as an alternative or replacement to UPZ [pruning] to achieve tree line clearance for 4 to 5 years. In summary, the Authority concludes that subsection (e) of Conn. Gen. Stat. 16-234 only authorizes an electric distribution company to perform vegetation management where there is direct contact and visible signs of burning and that only the minimum level of pruning be done to resolve the offense." (See link to full Final Decision below for details and other issues addressed.) GCNH argued for such an interpretation of subsection (e) in comments made to PURA. Eversource must also comply with this interpretation when it does direct contact pruning pursuant to subsection (e).
Under this decision, United Illuminating cannot continue to use TRM to avoid the normal requirements of the law that it obtain a permit from municipal tree wardens and notify abutting property owners before pruning or removing trees within the Utility Protection Zone (UPZ) surrounding its electric distribution wires.
GCNH documents filed with PURA in 18-12-25 and three news articles about the issue are also below. (Note that the docket number on the first two comments should be 18-12-25, not 18-25-12.)
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What you can do to protect your trees, especially from unnecessary direct contact pruning: Take photos ASAP of your street trees to have a dated record of their condition. Make note of your position and angle, and, if pruning occurs, take a photo from the same position and angle to document any violation of the law. If there is direct contact between electric distribution wires (the highest wires) and your street trees, be especially alert. You may want to inform your electric distribution company of the contact, and then make sure that it prunes only to remove that contact by being present when pruning take place. Get their commitment, in writing if possible, that they will not prune without your presence. File a complaint with PURA if UI (or Eversource) violates the law by pruning or removing a tree without following the proper permit and notice requirements. Also file a complaint with UI or Eversource, and with your tree warden and chief elected official (mayor, first selectman).
Flow Chart of Legal Requirements
Summary of Connecticut Law on Utility Vegetation Management
revised January 2017
Greenwich Tree Conservancy Brochure: "What are My Tree Rights Relating to Public Utilities"
(The Conservancy welcomes its use as a model for brochures by other towns and organizations.)
Summary of Connecticut Law on Utility Vegetation Management
revised January 2017
Greenwich Tree Conservancy Brochure: "What are My Tree Rights Relating to Public Utilities"
(The Conservancy welcomes its use as a model for brochures by other towns and organizations.)
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GCNH Flyer for distribution in your town or city: "Protect Your Community's Street Trees"
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DEEP Interactive Map with Contact Information for Your Town or City's Tree Warden
List of Tree Wardens in Every CT City, Town or Borough (See this for borough, village and deputy tree wardens)
List of Tree Wardens in Every CT City, Town or Borough (See this for borough, village and deputy tree wardens)
PURA Final Decision: Report to General Assembly on Utility Vegetation Management Practices PURA required the utilities to bring their notices to property owners into compliance with explicit statutory requirements now. However, the decision allows the utilities to ask tree wardens for permits to prune or remove trees according to rigid line clearance standards, such as ETT, without evaluating and specifying which trees need to be pruned or removed (often referred to as a "blanket permit"). PURA recognized the authority of tree wardens to require evaluation and justification of pruning and removal by the utilities prior to issuing permits and to otherwise regulate such work, but, if a tree warden does not exercise his/her authority, it falls to property owners alone to object or request a modification. If some property owners in a community do not understand the loss of benefits, including reduced property values, that unnecessary removal of mature trees can cause, all property owners will be harmed.
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Recent Information, Notices and News (including PURA Decisions)
(updated 7/2/2015) Frequently Asked Questions
(updated 3/16/2015) Background
(Documents, Prior Statutes, Past Meetings) All News Coverage Slide Show on Trees and Power (updated March 30, 2014; not revised) |
Protect Trees in Your Neighborhood and in Your City, Town or Borough from Improper Pruning and Unnecessary Removal
[Actions You Can Take] |
Comprehensive Overview: Protecting Neighborhood and Other Roadside Trees; Strategies for Community Leaders and Residents,
a publication of the Connecticut Fund for the Environment. Utility Vegetation Management Plans, including Illustrations of ETT, Photos and Video of Fairfield Public Meeting with UI
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GCNH Positions
on Trees and Power (including Right Tree/Right Place Trees) The Benefits of Street/Roadside
Trees (updated 3/16//2015) |
CONTACT: GCNHtreesandpower@gmail.com to ask questions, share information or arrange interviews regarding utility pruning and removal. Let us know immediately if a utility prunes or removes without a permit from a tree warden (town roads) or the DOT (state highways), fails to provide legally required notice, prunes or removes a tree or shrub while an objection or request for modification is pending, or prunes or removes a tree outside of the public right-of-way without the private property owner or municipal owner's consent.