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Helpful resources Trees and power lines ReliabiliTree tree trimming program

We trim to keep
your power lines safe.

We’re serious about our responsibility to keep trees away from power lines. We want Kansas trees to stand strong through all kinds of Kansas weather, so our tree experts trim them all year ’round to keep ice, snow, wind and storms from wreaking havoc.
Our proactive efforts are paying off.
In trimmed areas, tree-related power outages have dropped by more than 60 percent.
Year-round trimming is a smart way to keep families safe and preserve the beauty of Kansas trees for generations to come.


We recognize how much beauty trees add to our neighborhoods, so we take special care to prune them properly:
• Each tree is evaluated on an individual basis. Only branches that may impact overhead lines are removed.
• We follow the approved Tree Care Industry pruning standards.
 Directional pruning methods allow for trees to attain normal regrowth for their species. It’s the best method for safety and your tree’s health. Directional pruning also prevents future problems. Your tree may look different after pruning, but in the long run, it will be less susceptible to pest problems and decay.

Pruning methods

  • Each tree is evaluated on an individual basis. Directional pruning methods are most commonly used by professional crews, whereby only those branches that may impact overhead lines are removed.
  • This is the approved Tree Care Industry pruning standard. 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

  • This allows the tree owner to call Westar's Vegetation Central at 855-WESTAR-5 (855-937-8275) to have trees pruned by a Westar line clearance contractor. 
  • In this case, the tree will be pruned back at least 10 feet from the Westar line, and the tree owner is responsible for all debris left by the Westar contractor.

Westar responsibilities and 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 the pole to the home are the customer's 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 of the professional's company or the property owner.
  • Contact our Customer Relations Center to schedule a temporary removal of service - 800-383-1183.

Tree Growth Regulator (TGR) Program

  • Westar Energy’s ReliabiliTree program is applying a Tree Growth Regulator (TGR) as part of our effort to keep trees and power lines a safe distance apart, to reduce power outages and improve electric system reliability for our customers. The TGR product slows tree growth and regrowth after pruning and produces a healthier, greener tree. The use of TGRs to control tree regrowth is a best management practice used throughout the electric utility industry.
  • Westar has worked closely with city representatives and officials to oversee the use of this product in the community and identify which trees may be good candidates for treatment.
  • TGR results in a stronger root system, which benefits trees along streets where root space is limited. It makes trees more resilient to wind. It also slows regrowth after pruning and produces a healthier, greener tree.
  • The application effect lasts 2-4 years depending on the length of the growing season.
  • TGR is widely used by utilities and by arborists and landscapers. The active ingredient is formulated to resist movement from the application site. Westar will use ShortStop, which is supplied by Plant Growth Management Systems.
  • This next phase in the ReliabiliTree program will not only continue to keep electricity more reliable in tree-related situations, but will also enhance the beauty and resiliency of the trees that are treated.
  • Additional information is available at Plant Growth Management Systems and by Short Stop Support.
 

ReliabiliTree frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of the program?

ReliabiliTree helps improve electric service reliability by mitigating one of the main causes of power outages - vegetation near power lines. ReliabiliTree puts circuit clearance on a four to five year cycle. The program supports Westar's core value of safety for its employees, contractors and the public.
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When did the program begin?

ReliabiliTree began as a pilot in the Wichita metro area in 2010 and is currently active in all regions of Westar's territory.
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How does ReliabiliTree differ from current tree trimming practices?

Our past approach to trimming trees has been on an outage-based priority system. For many circuits, this may mean trees are not trimmed for eight to 10 years. With ReliabiliTree, we will trim trees on four to five year cycles.
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How are you educating the public about this program?

It's important that we help our customers and communities understand the importance of keeping power lines clear of trees and other vegetation, not only for the reliability of their electric service, but for their safety and the safety of our employees. We meet with city and/or county commissions, city staff and homeowner/neighborhood associations to explain the program and answer questions. Our public education campaign consists of various methods for getting the word out, such as newspaper, radio, TV and outdoor signage. Customers will receive a door hanger with information about the ReliabiliTree program prior to work being done at their home. Contact information is included.
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How much of a problem do trees pose to our electrical system?

Trees and power lines are natural enemies. When trees come into contact with power lines, electric service is hampered and, more importantly, a dangerous situation is created for both the public and our employees in charge of keeping the lights on. In a nutshell, the goal of Westar's ReliabiliTree line clearance program is to balance safe, reliable service with preserving the health and appearance of trees.
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How much of a difference does clearing trees under power lines make to customer outages?

In areas where we have cleared circuits of vegetation, tree-related power outages have dropped more than 60 percent.
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What is the white (or orange) dot on my tree?

We use a dot system to help crews identify trees that need attention. A white dot means a tree needs to be pruned. An orange dot means a tree needs to be removed. The dots are placed toward the bottom of the tree, if the tree is accessible. A door hanger with this information is left at each residence before work is started.
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What will my neighborhood look like after work is completed?

Like you, we appreciate the many benefits trees provide our homes and communities. That's why ReliabiliTree follows the same tree-pruning practices recommended by the International Society of Arboriculture and by the Tree Care Industry Association. The species of tree determines the amount of pruning. After pruning, the tree may look somewhat "stark," but in time it should fill out.
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Why is work being done near my house but not at my house?

Crews are assigned work by electrical circuits. In some areas, multiple circuits feed a particular neighborhood. This is why you might see work performed near your house but not on the lines that serve your home.
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Wouldn't it be better to bury the power lines?

Burying power lines is very costly and presents many challenges. Customers may experience longer interruptions with buried power lines because it takes more time to determine the cause and make repairs. Excavation work may also be required to diagnose and repair problems with buried power lines.
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Will ReliabiliTree crews clear the branches along the line that goes from the pole to my house?

ReliabiliTree crews clear branches along lines in the utility easement (from pole to pole). Trimming along service lines from the pole to the home is the customer's responsibility. Upon request, Westar will temporarily remove the service line so customers can have branches along the service line trimmed. We will return to reattach the service line once the customer notifies us the work is complete. Depending on the situation, Westar may trim trees or remove vegetation. Call our Customer Relations Center at 800-383-1183 to schedule this service.
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What does TGR do, and is it safe?

The Tree Growth Regulator (TGR), ShortStop, is supplied by Plant Growth Management Systems, LLC and is specifically formulated to be used by arborists to slow the annual growth of trees. It also indirectly creates additional benefits that help trees withstand urban stress, such as poor soil, limited root space, drought conditions and wind damage. The application is subsoil; either basal drench around the trunk of the tree or soil injection. Growth and regrowth control on trees varies between two and four years depending on the length of the growing season.
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What is the active chemical in TGR?

The active ingredient in ShortStop is Paclobutrazol (22.3%). This product is specifically formulated to resist movement from the application site. It is water insoluble and can be applied throughout the year.
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How are trees selected for treatment?

A Westar vegetation employee will work with a city representative to identify candidate trees and mark them with a green dot. Then we will notify the adjacent landowner of the upcoming TGR application and answer any questions. If no objections are presented, our contractor will apply the TGR to marked tree(s). All work will be tracked in a digital database and available to the city upon request.
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How is TGR applied?

A two-person crew will utilize a small gas powered pump/tank system to administer the subsoil application. This machine will be transported between sites utilizing the hitch receiver on the rear of a pickup.
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