Letters with the following information will be sent to homeowners in affected areas prior to service starting.
We know you count on us to provide safe and reliable electric service, so periodically we work to prune or remove trees at risk of damaging power lines or causing service interruptions. In the next few weeks, MidAmerican Energy contractor Asplundh Tree Expert will begin tree work in your neighborhood.
Before work begins, you should receive an automated phone call alerting you that crews will be in your area. If you have any questions or concerns about how trees on your property may interact with power lines call us at 888-427-5632.
Our contract crews use industry best practices to prune only those limbs that have electric line clearance and safety issues. Vines and vegetation attached to poles and other electrical equipment also will be removed. Trees in neighborhoods near high voltage lines that serve numerous customers will be pruned to ensure safe and reliable service. We may also prune tree limbs away from the service line that runs from the pole to your electric meter so that vegetation is not redirecting or putting pressure on your electric service. The debris created by this work will be chipped and hauled away.
If there are trees along the right of way you are considering removing that are in close proximity to high voltage lines, you may request to have the trees further assessed by a local MidAmerican district forester. We will consider removing a tree if it is diseased, dying, storm-damaged or has the potential to negatively impact the high voltage lines. There is no charge for these services. We will not remove trees near lower voltage service lines.
If you have underground electric service or do not have trees near MidAmerican’s electric lines, you are receiving this letter because your property is connected to the electric system where work will occur. You may notice tree trimming crews parked on your street or working in your neighborhood along the roadside or in backyards. While these crews may not need to perform work on your property, we want you to be aware of personnel working in your area.
The Emerald Ash Borer is a small beetle which bores into the bark of an ash tree and feeds on the cambium layer, ultimately leading to the tree’s decline. EAB infestations have been confirmed throughout MidAmerican Energy’s service territory. You may contact us and request to remove ash trees on your property near electrical equipment. Ash tree removal requires approval from the local MidAmerican district forester as well as the property owner. For questions about the EAB in Illinois please contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 217-785-5575 or visit http://www.IllinoisEAB.com.
Oak wilt is a fungal disease affecting oak trees. One way the disease is spread is by small sap-feeding beetles. To help prevent the spread of oak wilt, our contract crews do not trim oak trees between March 15 and September 30 when the insects are active. We record these “oak skips” and will return to trim these oak trees October through February. If oak trees must be trimmed for safety or to maintain service, personnel will seal the cuts made in the oak trees with latex paint to stop the flow of sap.
Contact us any time for more information about the Emerald Ash Borer, ash tree removal, oak wilt disease or MidAmerican Energy tree trimming work. Call us at 888-427-5632, email trees@midamerican.com or request tree trimming online at MidAmericanEnergy.com/tree-trimming.
If you have questions about MidAmerican’s vegetation management activities, or to obtain a written disclosure of dispute resolution opportunities, processes, rights and remedies provided by MidAmerican, please call us at 888-427-5632 or visit MidAmericanEnergy.com/tree-trimming. Customers and property owners may appeal the planned vegetation management activities through MidAmerican and the Illinois Commerce Commission. You may address any concerns about our vegetation management activities by contacting the Consumer Affairs Officer, Illinois Commerce Commission, at 800-524-0795.
Information from MidAmerican Energy on planting trees safely.
https://www.midamericanenergy.com/safety/tree-trimming/planting-trees