Is Duke Energy responsible for cleanup after pruning trees around distribution lines?
The majority of our pruning and cutting occurs during routine line maintenance cycles. In the region, our policy is to dispose of any small limbs and brush in maintained settings. The larger pieces of wood are cut into manageable lengths for your use. In non-maintained sites, pruned vegetation and wood is left in place. This material will bio-degrade into its natural components. When an Act of God (such as lightning, ice storms, high winds, hurricanes, tornadoes) cause trees or other vegetation to fall across power lines and thus create power outages, we cut the trees and brush so poles and lines can be replaced and re-energized. Disposal of any wood, limbs or debris resulting from this type of emergency operation is the responsibility of the property owner.
