Is this you?
- ▸Branches touching or within 10 feet of a power line
- ▸Tree leaning toward primary (high-voltage) or service drop lines
- ▸Sparks, arcing, or buzzing sounds from the line
- ▸Lights flickering inside the house during wind
- ▸Burn marks on bark where branches contact the line
- ▸Tree fell and is now lying across the line
First principle: assume every power line is energized. Avista does not always de-energize lines immediately even when a tree is on them, and the only safe assumption is that the line and everything touching it (including the tree, wet ground, metal fences) is live. Stay 35 feet back. Keep kids and pets inside.
Second principle: there are two kinds of power lines on your property and they behave very differently. Service drop lines run from the utility pole to your house — these are lower voltage (240V usually) and Avista is responsible for trimming the trees around them on the utility side, but you're responsible on the customer side. Primary lines are the higher-voltage lines running along the street between poles — Avista handles all clearance for these, and you cannot legally trim within 10 feet of them yourself.
If a tree is leaning toward a primary line and hasn't touched it yet, call Avista at 1-800-227-9187 and report it. Avista's vegetation management team will assess and either trim or coordinate removal at no cost to you, since it's their clearance corridor. They typically respond within a few days for non-emergency cases and faster for actively contacting situations.
If a tree is leaning toward your service drop and hasn't touched it, call us at (509) 204-4333. We coordinate directly with Avista when needed — they'll de-energize the drop at the meter so we can work safely, we remove the tree or limb, they re-energize. This is a routine process and we do it weekly.
If a tree is already on a line — call 911 first, then Avista, then us. The fire department secures the scene, Avista de-energizes, and we extract the tree once it's safe. Do not approach the tree, do not touch any metal fence or gutter that the line might be contacting, and do not let anyone else approach. People die from this every year in the Inland Northwest.
Spokane / North Idaho Context
Avista's primary lines run along most Spokane Valley alleys and rear-lot lines, which means a lot of mature trees in our area are within striking distance. The high-failure species near lines are Ponderosa pine (sheds large dead limbs) and cottonwood (shallow roots, rapid decay). If you have either within 30 feet of a primary line, get them assessed.
What to do right now
- 1Stay 35 feet away from any tree contacting a line.
- 2Call 911 if anyone is in immediate danger or a line is on the ground.
- 3Call Avista at 1-800-227-9187 to report contact with primary lines.
- 4Call (509) 204-4333 for service drop coordination and tree removal.
- 5Document the scene with photos from a safe distance — useful for insurance.
What it costs: Tree-on-service-drop removals with Avista coordination typically run $1,200–$3,500. Tree-on-primary work is handled by Avista at no cost when it's in their easement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I trim a branch myself if it's just touching the service drop?
Legally no, and practically don't. Even a service drop carries enough voltage to kill, and contact with the line can energize whatever you're standing on. The trim is free or low-cost when we coordinate with Avista — not worth the risk.
How fast will Avista respond to a tree on a line?
Emergency response (tree on a line, line down, fire risk) is usually within 1–4 hours. Non-emergency clearance (tree within 10 feet, no contact yet) is usually a few days to a couple weeks depending on volume.
Will Avista pay for the tree removal too?
Only the line clearance — they cut what's needed to clear the line, then leave the rest. The remaining tree, stump, and cleanup is on you (and us).
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