Line Clearance - Tree Pruning

Overhead Power Line Clearance

• Westar Energy works with professional line clearance crews to prune trees away from overhead power lines.


• Our trained arborists prune trees to maintain a safe distance from power lines. Line voltage and species of tree determine the amount of space required for overhead line clearance.


• When tree limbs grow in or around overhead electrical lines, they can create a safety and reliability hazard.


• Disease and insect infestation can also render a tree hazardous. In these cases, pruning is necessary to achieve proper clearance. Sometimes it is better to remove a tree than to prune it severely.


• When routine pruning is needed, professional, qualified crews will prune or remove trees as necessary at no cost to our customers. All tree cuttings will be cleaned up and removed from your property. This does not include debris left when a customer hires a private tree trimming company or does the work themselves.

Pruning Methods

• Each tree is evaluated on an individual basis.


• Directional pruning methods are most commonly used by these professional crews, whereby only those branches that may conflict with overhead lines are removed.


• This is the accepted industry pruning standard appoved by the Tree Care Industry. It allows for the tree to attain the normal regrowth for the species and is better than other pruning methods for safety and your tree's health.


• Your tree may look different after pruning, but in the long run it will be less susceptible to pest problems and decay.


• Some trees with a single main trunk are not good candidates for directional pruning. These trees may be pruned below the lines in order to obtain required clearance.

Trim for Safe Program

• Allows the tree owner to call Westar and have their tree pruned by a Westar Line Clearance Contractor. In this case the tree will be pruned back at least 10 feet from the Westar line.


• In this case, the tree owner is responsible for all debris left by the Westar contractor.

Westar vs. Customer Responsibilities

• Westar Energy line clearance is responsible for power lines that run from pole to pole (in our easement).


• Service lines that run from pole to the home are the customers responsibility.


• As a service to our customers, Westar will temporarily remove the service line so that arrangements can be made with a professional to remove necessary tree limbs. As soon as the work is complete, Westar will return and restore service. Debris left by the professional is the responsibility or the tree company or the property owner.


• Debris created by the tree owner or the hired contractor is the tree owner or contractors responsibility.


• Contact our customer contact center to schedule a temporary removal of service - (800) 383-1183.