Right-of-way and Vegetation Management Policies

Right-of-Way Policy
Trees are a tremendous asset to homeowners and the environment, providing shade, wildlife habitat, and aesthetic value to all of us. Unfortunately, trees are a leading cause of power outages, especially when the wind blows. Hawkeye performs routine maintenance of trees and other vegetation on over 2,000 miles of overhead rights-of-way. These routine vegetation management activities are essential to maintain reliable electric service to our members and to provide for the safety of your family and the general public.

Hawkeye's Vegetation Management Program:

• Tree pruning
• The removal of hazard trees and other trees that require excessive pruning
• The movwing or cutting of bruch and small trees on the right-of-way
• Herbicide application to small trees on the right-of-way

If you decide you have a tree that needs to be trimmed or removed, please call Community Tree Works at.

How We Prune Trees:

Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place:
If you plant trees on the southwest and west sides of your home, they can block the sun and dramatically reduce the heat in your house. The Department of Energy estimates that just three trees positioned correctly around a house can cut the energy used for cooling by one-fourth. And in the winter, those same trees can cut your heating costs by 10-20 percent. But be aware that a tree on the south side of a house can actually increase heating costs in the winter because it casts shade.

Remember that trees and power lines don’t mix. If you plant any kinds of trees near power lines, make sure they’re small and that they’ll stay small. Also don’t forget about underground power lines when you’re planting. Call Iowa One-Call (800-292-8989) before you dig. It's the Law!