I live in North Hills and we had the same crews through last year. I am actually looking into solar options right now, and I wonder if anyone has seen a measurable increase in their production numbers after the utility company cleared out those high branches. I would love to hear some real numbers from neighbors who have systems installed.

People always complain and say we should just bury the power lines, but that is a highly complex engineering task. Trenching through established neighborhoods means cutting through the root systems of those same trees, which often ends up killing them anyway. Plus, repairing underground lines after a failure takes much longer than splicing an aerial wire.

Just be careful because as soon as these utility crews leave, the door knockers will start showing up. They will tell you that the utility company damaged your trees and that branches are now a threat to your roof, offering a free inspection on the spot. Never sign a contract on your porch. Insist on a written scope of work and call a local, established business.

For those who do lose trees to these utility cuts, the NC Cooperative Extension office has a fantastic publication on utility-friendly plantings. You can plant smaller species like eastern redbuds, flowering dogwoods, or fringe trees under the lines. They will never grow tall enough to interfere with the wires, so they will never face the chainsaw.

That is excellent advice, Jolene. A little proactive planning goes a long way. And remember, if you have a tree on your own property that needs safety trimming, do not try to handle large limbs yourself with a ladder and a chainsaw. Hire a professional climber who has the proper rigging equipment to lower those heavy branches safely.