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7/4/25 @ 10:22 am | Your cooperative is currently experiencing normal energy demand. No special energy saving measures are necessary.
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⚠️Summer Hours⚠️

Our office hours have changed, which run from Memorial Day through Labor Day:

Monday–Thursday: 7:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 11:00 AM

Need to report an outage or emergency after hours?

  • We’re always here for you—24/7! Call us at 712-659-3649 or 800-253-6211. Our after-hours call center will answer and dispatch crews if needed.

Making a payment after hours?  No problem. We’ve got you covered:

  • Use our drop boxes in Glidden or Sac City
  • Visit our website and click “Pay My Bill”
  • Log into SmartHub online or on the mobile app for quick and easy payments

Have questions? Give us a call at 712-659-3649 or 800-253-6211 — we're here to help!

 

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Trees and Power Lines Don't Always Mix

Trees and Power Lines Don't Always Mix

Trees add beauty to any landscape, but they can be dangerous if located too close to power lines. Learn about power company tree management and how best to locate trees on your property.

Published: 5/28/2025 8:00:48 PM

Trees add beauty to any landscape, but they can be dangerous if located too close to power lines.

Power lines and trees

Trees add beauty to any landscape, but they also have impressive practical benefits. They clean the air, reduce carbon dioxide and (when positioned correctly) provide protection from wind and sun, reducing heating and cooling costs. If a tree grows too close to a power line, however, it can cause power outages and become a life-threatening danger.

A growing problem

Trees that grow or fall into power lines are the single largest cause of power outages, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Problems can occur suddenly, such as when a branch breaks during a wind or ice storm. Issues can also develop over time through natural growth patterns, with growing branches crowding or rubbing against power lines.

Trees located near power lines represent a real threat to children who may be tempted to climb them, or to homeowners attempting to tackle a tree-trimming job on their own. Limbs and branches that come into contact with power lines may become energized.

Trimming back

To improve safety and reduce the risk of power outages, your power company maintains a vigilant program of tree and brush removal and trimming. Trimming is performed according to directional pruning techniques that meet the standards and practices of the Tree Care Industry Association and other groups.

Directional pruning guides new growth away from power lines. Limbs or portions of limbs growing near power lines are trimmed back to the main branch or trunk, where they would naturally shed if the limbs died from natural causes. This pruning method preserves the tree's natural defense system and minimizes impact on the crown. In some situations, an entire tree is removed. Tree removal may be necessary because the tree is leaning toward a power line or has a structural defect that increases its risk of falling.

Right place, right tree

Adding trees to your landscape? Carefully consider different tree species and how they may affect power lines on your grounds. No tree should be planted near high-voltage transmission lines. Some species, however, normally grow to a mature height of 20 feet or less. These include:

  • Crabapple
  • Flowering Dogwood
  • Hawthorne
  • Bristlecone Pine
  • Common Juniper
  • Trident, Amur, Paperback and Tartarian Maples
  • Rose Acacia

These species can typically provide an attractive addition to your landscape without interfering with distribution lines. The following species, however, grow particularly tall and should be planted no closer than 60 feet from distribution lines:

  • Oak
  • Colorado Blue Spruce
  • Silver and Norway Maples
  • Most pine species

If you're planning a landscape project, overhead power lines are not your only concern. Knowing where utility lines are buried can help you avoid injury, service outages and costly repairs. Call 811 to have underground lines marked before you dig.

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Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative

28725 Hwy 30 / PO Box 486

Glidden, IA  51443

712.659.3649 or 800.253.6211

www.rvec.coop

About Us

Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative (RVEC), headquartered in Glidden, Iowa, is a member-owned, non-for-profit rural electric cooperative. RVEC provides reliable, affordable, responsible energy to businesses and industries, farms and homes throughout west central Iowa. Learn More.

Follow Us Online

All information on this website can be made available in an alternate form by calling 712.659.3649.

2023 ACSI Badge

Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative earns this award based on data modeled by the ACSI® in 2023.

Award criteria are determined by the ACSI based on customers rating their satisfaction with Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative in a survey independent of the syndicated ACSI Energy Utility Study.

For more about the ACSI, visit www.theacsi.org/badges. ACSI and its logo are registered trademarks of the American Customer Satisfaction Index LLC.

©2025 Raccoon Valley Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • About RVEC
    • About Touchstone Energy
    • Annual Meeting
    • Board of Directors
    • Careers
    • Newsletters
    • Member Appreciation Events
    • Statement of Nondiscrimination
  • ENERGY CENTER
    • Energy Demand
    • Energy Saving Tips
    • Energy Solutions
    • Electric Vehicles
    • Heat Pump Calculator
    • Rebates
    • Touchstone Energy Savings
  • MEMBER INFO
    • My Account
      • How to Read Your Bill
      • Member Online Filter Store
      • My Power = Demand & Energy
      • My Power = Peak Page
      • Pay My Bill/View My KWH Usage
      • Payment Options
      • Patronage (Capital Credits)
      • What It Means to Be a Member
    • Forms
    • Community
      • Co-op Connections
      • Homeward's Grants & Loans
    • Youth
      • Scholarship Opportunities
      • Youth Tour
    • Energy Trail Tour Contest
  • RENEWABLE ENERGY
    • Iowa Energy Center
    • Iowa Choice Renewables
    • Solar Calculator
  • ECONOMIC DEV/COMMUNITY
    • Economic Development
    • Programs and Services
    • Homeward, Inc
    • Iowa Area Development Group
    • Revolving Loan Fund
    • Revolving Loan Fund Application
  • SAFETY
    • Kids Safety
    • Little Members
    • Residential Generators
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Quiz
  • OUTAGES
    • Outage Preparedness
    • Outage Restoration
    • Outage Safety
    • Outage Center
  • CONTACT US