Hydro line clearance
Trimming trees away from power lines, done by crews trained and approved for work near live wires.
What it is
Branches touching power lines cause outages and fires, and they can electrify the whole tree. Only crews trained and approved for line clearance should work near energized wires. Never trim near a power line yourself.
Who pays depends on which wire it is. Your local hydro utility trims around its main lines at the top of the poles at no cost to you. The service wire from the pole to your house, and any private line on your land, is usually your responsibility.
Who to call, and who pays
Call your local hydro utility (the company on your electricity bill), not a tree company, if branches touch or are near the main lines. Hydro One, Hydro Ottawa, Toronto Hydro and Alectra all trim around their main lines for free. For the wire from the pole to your house, hire a qualified crew and ask your utility about a temporary disconnect. Hydro One offers one free disconnect and reconnect a year.
Signs you might need it
- Branches touching or within a few metres of any power line
- Lights flicker when it's windy
- A tree is growing up into the lines along your street or lot line
- A limb is hanging on a wire after a storm (stay away and call the utility)
Good to know
If branches are near the main lines at the top of the poles, call your utility first; it's their job and it's free. Hire a tree company only for your own service wire or private lines, and ask the utility to disconnect the power first.
Typical cost in Ontario
Private work is priced like pruning (about $75–$150 per hour), and can cost more if a bucket truck or specially trained crew is needed. No Ontario company publishes a separate line-clearance price.
What pushes the price up or down
- Whether the line belongs to the utility (free) or to you
- How close branches are to the wire, which decides whether a power disconnect is needed
- Tree size and bucket-truck access
- A light clearance trim versus a heavy reduction or removal
Ways to spend less
- Always check with your utility first; if it's their line, the trimming is free
- Use your utility's free or low-cost disconnect so your arborist can work safely
- Plant new trees well away from lines (Hydro One suggests tall trees at least 8 m away)
Who pays comes straight from Ontario utility websites. Private contractor prices are an estimate based on general pruning rates. Prices are typical ranges gathered from published Ontario price guides and company price pages in September 2026, before 13% HST. They’re a guide, not a quote: your price depends on your tree and your property. Get two or three written quotes, and check whether your city charges a permit fee.
Find a company for this work
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Related specializations
Sources for the prices on this page
- Tree Trimming Service – Hydro One (Ontario)
- Caring for your property – Hydro One (Ontario)
- FAQs – Hydro Ottawa (Ottawa, ON)
- Vegetation management – Toronto Hydro (Toronto, ON)
- Vegetation Management – Alectra Utilities (GTA/Golden Horseshoe, ON)
- Hydro Tree Pruning Toronto – Shady Lane Tree Care (Stouffville/GTA, ON)
- How Much Does Hiring An Arborist Cost in 2026? – Tree Doctors Inc. (Toronto/GTA, ON)