Plant with Safety in Mind 

While adding greenery to your property enhances its beauty, it’s essential to consider where you plant—especially around electrical poles and power lines. At MidSouth, we work hard to ensure safe and dependable power delivery to all our members. To achieve this, we maintain clear access to the utility right-of-way, which is the area surrounding power lines and poles. Trees, bushes and shrubs planted too close to these structures can interfere with maintenance work, reduce reliability and even create safety hazards.

Why Clearance Matters

• Safety: Overgrown vegetation near power lines increases the risk of electrical hazards, including fire or electrocution, for workers, you and your family.
• Reliability: Branches and roots can damage power lines, poles and other electrical equipment, increasing the risk of power interruptions and outages.
• Efficiency: Clear access to electrical equipment allows our crews to quickly and carefully perform maintenance or make repairs, minimizing restoration times.

Planting Guidelines – Poles and Lines

• Avoid planting within 20 feet of utility poles or power lines. MidSouth EC requires 10 feet on either side of poles and lines to ensure space for equipment and crews to safely operate.

Planting Guidelines – Ground Transformers

• Avoid planting vegetation within 8 feet in front of ground transformers. If plants are in the area, trim vegetation to no more than 4 inches above the ground. See the diagram below for ground transformers below for more guidelines.

Other Planting Tips:

• Keep roots in mind. Tree roots can damage underground infrastructure, so consider their spread before planting.
• Check before you dig. Always call 811 before digging to ensure you avoid underground utilities.

We Appreciate Your Cooperation

Your thoughtful planting not only helps keep your property and neighborhood safe but also allows us to serve you better. Let’s work together to ensure our right-of-way remains clear so we can continue providing the reliable service you depend on.

Have questions about planting guidelines or right-of-way policies? Contact MidSouth EC at 936.825.5100.