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Sourced DIY decision guide

When a Tree or Branch Is Near an OPPD Power Line

For nearby or uncertain lines, pause the work and ask Midwest Roots to review the situation. You do not need to decide line ownership, voltage, clearance, or whether OPPD is needed. If the tree or branches appear to touch a line, stay clear and do not attempt the work. Midwest Roots reviews the situation and determines whether utility coordination is required. For a downed wire, arcing, or fire, stay clear and report the electrical condition to OPPD. Call 911 for fire or an immediate threat to people. Do not approach the tree, wire, or anything touching it.

Sources checked 2026-07-30. Next review due 2027-01-30. Independent professional review: not completed.

Homeowner purpose

What this guide can—and cannot—do

Help Omaha-area homeowners report visible conditions while Midwest Roots determines whether tree work requires utility coordination; active electrical warning signs go to OPPD/emergency help first.

This page does not inspect your tree, diagnose a condition, prescribe treatment, or declare a task 100 percent safe or unsafe.

Stop conditions

  • Keep away from every downed line and treat it as live; use OPPD’s safety-hazard contact channel and emergency services when an immediate threat is present.
  • Do not touch the tree, line, ladder, fence, vehicle, or tool that may be energized, and do not try to determine line status yourself.

Report what you see; Midwest Roots reviews coordination

For nearby or uncertain lines, pause the work and ask Midwest Roots to review the situation. You do not need to decide line ownership, voltage, clearance, or whether OPPD is needed.

If the tree or branches appear to touch a line, stay clear and do not attempt the work. Midwest Roots reviews the situation and determines whether utility coordination is required.

For a downed wire, arcing, or fire, stay clear and report the electrical condition to OPPD. Call 911 for fire or an immediate threat to people. Do not approach the tree, wire, or anything touching it.

OPPD explains whether a line is utility or customer responsibility and may direct de-energizing, rerouting, line clearance, or another next step.

Asking Midwest Roots to review a line concern is not clearance to begin work. Homeowners are not asked to decide line responsibility, voltage, clearance, or whether OPPD is needed.

What the 10-foot figure does—and does not—mean

OSHA material uses 10 feet as a minimum approach concept for unqualified workers around certain energized lines.

This navigator treats that figure as a hard electrical stop. It never means tree work outside that distance is cleared or safe.

After coordination review

Midwest Roots reviews the actual tree-work context and determines whether OPPD coordination is required. Any required utility direction must be resolved before work; the provider still needs the specific site and scope.

This website does not claim that Midwest Roots has line-clearance credentials or that any particular provider is authorized for the electrical work.

How the sourced numbers are used

10 feet

An occupational minimum-approach concept for an unqualified person, used here only as a conservative electrical stop. It never means work beyond that distance is safe.

Sources and review status

Sources were checked 2026-07-30; the next six-month review is due 2027-01-30. Independent professional review has not been completed.