Hydro Line Clearing for January 2022

Each year, the town and its tree service contractor perform hydro line clearing on behalf of Oakville Hydro to reduce safety hazards and power outages. The 2022 hydro line clearing program will take place in east Oakville, between Chartwell Road and Winston Churchill Boulevard and Trafalgar Road to Ninth Line.

Trees are pruned in each of four zones on a four-year cycle and follow the Electrical Safety Authority guidelines to maintain a three-metre (10 foot) clearance between branches and primary power lines and one metre (three feet) for secondary lines. As a last resort, some trees growing too close to the hydro line may need to be removed if the arborist cannot achieve the clearance standard with acceptable pruning practices.

In some situations, the town must prune trees on private property if they are growing too close to hydro lines. In cases where hydro lines are located in rear yards, Oakville Hydro has an easement through the property which allows the arborist to access the tree.

For more information and to track the progress of the Hydro Line Clearing program visit the Tree Maintenance page.