Quick answer: If a tree or branch is on a power line in Denver, stay well away and assume the line is live. Report it to Xcel Energy at 1-800-895-1999. Call 911 if there is fire, sparking or anyone in danger. Do not touch the tree, and do not let anyone cut it until the utility has made the line safe.
A tree touching a line can be energized without any sign of it. This guide covers who to call and what happens next. For the tree work that follows, see emergency tree removal in Denver.
What should you do right away?
- Keep back. Stay clear of the tree, the line and anything touching them, including fences and puddles.
- Keep others away. Warn neighbors and keep children and pets indoors.
- Call Xcel Energy on 1-800-895-1999. Give the address and say that a tree is on the line.
- Call 911 if there is immediate danger. That includes fire, sparks, a line on a vehicle with someone inside, or a line across a road.
- Wait for the utility. Tree work starts only after the line has been made safe.
Xcel Energy’s safety guidance is to always assume a line is energized, even one on or near the ground, and never to touch or move it.
Why is a tree on a line so dangerous?
- Wet or green wood can carry electricity from the line to the ground
- A line that looks dead can be re-energized without warning
- You cannot tell a high-voltage line from a harmless one by looking
- A broken limb can shift and pull the line down
Who deals with what?
| Task | Who does it |
|---|---|
| Making the line safe and restoring power | Xcel Energy |
| Fire, injury or a blocked road | 911 |
| Removing the tree once the line is safe | A tree service |
| Repairs to your house and its electrical equipment | You and your insurer |
When you report the line, ask Xcel what it will clear and what will be left for you. What the tree work costs is in emergency tree removal cost in Denver. For insurance, see does homeowners insurance cover tree removal?
What if the tree is also on your house?
Get everyone out and treat the whole area as live until the utility says otherwise. The full sequence is in what to do when a tree falls on your house.
How do you stop it happening again?
Branches growing toward lines are a job for professionals, never a ladder and a saw. Have trees near the service line to your house looked at as part of regular tree pruning, and have dead or failing trees near lines removed before a storm does it for you. See the signs a tree needs to be removed.
Tree on power line FAQs
Can a tree company remove a tree that is touching a power line?
Not until the utility has made the line safe. Report it to Xcel Energy first. Once the line is de-energized or cleared, the tree can be removed.
What is the Xcel Energy number for a downed power line?
1-800-895-1999. Xcel Energy asks people to leave the area and report a downed line immediately. Call 911 as well if there is fire or anyone is in danger.
What if a power line is down in my yard?
Stay indoors or well away from it, keep others away, and call Xcel Energy on 1-800-895-1999. Assume the line is live even if it is not sparking.
