Thinking of planting near powerlines or electrical boxes? Stop and look up first. The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) guideline, built with Ontario utilities and landscape experts, is here to help you choose the right tree, in the right place, without risking a blackout, or worse.
Not all greenery plays nicely with electricity. Trees that grow too tall can tangle with live wires. Vines creeping up poles or guy wires? That’s a hidden fire hazard. Even shrubs can block worker access or send roots into underground cables. The risks range from outages to electrocution.
Before you dig, check your local by-laws and call Ontario One Call for underground locates. Respect easements, because your utility has legal access, and planting in the wrong spot could mean losing your tree later. Follow clearance rules: 3 metres in front of pad-mounted transformers, 1.5 metres around the sides, and always steer clear of the “Low Zone” directly under overhead lines.
ESA’s planting zones help you match tree height with safe distances. The guide also includes a hardiness index and a list of species suited to Ontario’s varied climate. Whether you’re a homeowner, landscaper, or municipality, a few feet of planning today could save lives, and limbs, tomorrow.