Help needed with PG&E tree trimming policy (power lines, vacation home)

[johninvegas]

Hello guys!

Well, it was tree trimming time again at our vacation home in Pine Grove in Amador County. They have once again butchered our trees. We had about a dozen trees cut down, many of which were more than the required four feet from the power lines. And once cut down, they just left many of the logs, 128 by our count, where they ended up. Some are up to 30 feet in length. According to their own website, they were supposed to, at the very least, cut the logs into manageable lengths and leave them in a convenient location for our use. And they are supposed to use a chipper to take away everything that is less than 4" in diameter. They have done none of this.

We are going to the Pine Grove office, but should we be seeing someone in a higher capacity, and if so, where are these people located?

Thanks in advance.

[JGC97]

You may want to contact PG&E about this, if you haven't already, John. I saw a report on the news the other night that PG&E is using outside contractors to do these trimming projects. It could be they aren't aware of this type of problem or, if they do, perhaps they don't care. I hope it's not the latter. Give them a call and inquire about it.

If you don't get any help removing the cut trees, try running an ad (maybe facebook marketplace) for free wood but explain the situation and advise that someone will need to have the adequate equipment to take on the job. There are a number of people who look for an opportunity like this. Acquiring wood from a tree they don't have to cut down is like gold. These people have all the equipment needed to cut them into manageable rounds, split and haul them away to sell.

It's a pain, I know, when you're left to clean up someone else's mess but it could work out well for someone looking to make some money selling wood. Hope you return and give an update. Best of luck to you on this.

Edit: I just remembered. My brother who lived in the hills of Calaveras County used to sell some of his trees to a logging company. They'd come in and cut a certain number of trees down and haul them off. Of course, he made money on it because they were taking the whole tree. You might try calling one of those type of companies and see if they'd like to have them. Usually these companies like to have the whole tree (a certain length to be used to make lumber) but if they aren't picky and use smaller trees for making pellets and smaller lumber pieces, they might be interested. Worth a shot.

If you should decide to go that route, here's a list of timber companies in your area. http://www.amadortreemortality.com/u...s_and_rpfs.pdf

[johninvegas]

Thanks for the reply, I'll check with the loggers, but I'm not sure they would want it as it's mostly pine and too small to make boards out of.

[JGC97]

Okay, sorry. Perhaps you can find someone in the buynsellpress who is interested. Under the "work wanted" ads in the employment section, there are a few advertising for work wanted. EMPLOYMENT & WORK WANTED (I think I saw work wanted ads on pages 3, 4, and 5)

I'd still call PG&E and find out if they're supposed to clean up the brush or if it's the homeowner's responsibility. It's a pain, I know but at least you're going to have some defensible space around your place, in case (God forbid) Amador County is hit with wildfires this year.

[oldtrader]

When living where we had trees that were in conflict with power lines, we kept control by taking care of trimming and thinning, which took care of the problem and kept area looking nice.

People that leave it to the power company, had problems like you have, and left a much worse appearance as you have seen. The only reason the power company did what they did, was you did not do what needed to be done.

Make up a few brochures offering FREE WOOD to get someone with equipment to clean things. Place on local message boards and problem solved.

[looker009]

Next time make sure to have armed security to prevent trespassers from coming on to your property.