The danger of trees and electricity lines
Report street trees interfering with overhead cables immediately
The branches of trees planted on the sidewalks can cause havoc if they grow between overhead electricity cables.
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993, street trees in the vicinity of high tension residential power lines need to be pruned so that they are at least three metres below these lines. As the voltage of overhead cables increases, so the tree needs to be pruned back further.
Overhead electricity lines are normally uninsulated and if an object gets too close, it is possible that a flashover can occur. This means that electricity jumps over a distance to reach earth via the object. When this occurs, it can kill or cause severe shocks and burns to any person nearby.
Trees that interfere with electricity cables can cause a lot of damage to City Power’s lines and infrastructure and are often the cause of power outages, especially during thunderstorms. A flashover to a tree can cause loss of supply to customers, a fire in the tree or can lead to the tree itself conducting electricity.
Yumna Sheik, the spokesperson for City Power, urges residents in the City of Johannesburg to report any trees interfering with electricity lines or encroaching on the community’s power supply.
“To request pruning or the removal of a tree in front of your property, call City Power’s call centre on 086 056 2874 or log a call on their website at www.citypower.co.za by clicking on ‘Fault logging’,” she said.
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