I have a big tree in my front yard. My goal is to cut it down completely, as my front yard gets very little sun light. I've contacted Duke and Cincinnati Bell about whose responsible for trimming branches that are growing into their lines. Duke assured me it was up to their sub-contractors to trimand for me to clean up the mess (getting anyone to come out is another issue) but Cincy Bell keeps giving me the run around. I'd expect them to tell me not to try to trim around their lines so some dumb dumb doesn't take out a whole block. Does anyone know for sure?

The utility "owns" the lines and it is their responsibility to ensure they are maintained. Part of that is tree trimming maintenance so as to diminish the possibility of damage. Now they may not always know where issues might be so they definitely need to be alerted when an issue exists. As far as cleanup...my guess would be that's on them too but I don't know.

They won't cut it down completely, just trim whatever limbs are near their lines. Most times it leaves you will a really odd looking tree. As far as cleanup goes, you never know what you'll get. If the limbs are small enough for them to chip up they likely will, but anything large will likely be stacked in a pile for you to deal with.

Cincy Bell told me it is no longer their responsibility to trim the lines. They didnt have an answer for me as to who is responsible if I take out the whole block.

Cincy Bell told me it is no longer their responsibility to trim the lines. They didnt have an answer for me as to who is responsible if I take out the whole block.

 

I can't think of a time where I've seen a telephone company trim around utility lines, so that sounds about right that they're not responsible for that any longer. Duke definitely does trim around lines, so I'd pursue things with them - but you're going to have to be determined about it, because utility providers are infamously difficult to get any kind of response out of. For what it's worth, there may well be a cable television line up on the utility pole as well...although I would guess, like Cincinnati Bell, they aren't in the tree-trimming business.

 

As far as liability if you take out the utility lines if you have the tree cut down yourself goes, you're left holding the bag on that one. I dealt with that on a jobsite up in Middletown, OH once. We had a crew out to clear a site, and the excavation company decided to try to cut down some of the trees and sell them to a mill. They were trying to fell a tree to the left, and it went right instead...right onto a Duke power line, complete with sparks spitting out of the wires, and about 20 city blocks without power. The excavation company (or actually their liability insurance provider) ended up footing the bill for the repair, and a couple of additional payout checks for money lost by businesses within the blackout they created. Takeaway: make sure whomever you hire shows you their proof of liability insurance.