PG&E Stepping Up Response To Tree Mortality

Courtesy: U.S. Forest Service

Sonora, CA — PG&E announced an expanded tree management program Thursday to help customers that have dead or dying trees threatening power infrastructure.

The newly expanded program is available to PG&E customers in 10 counties, including Tuolumne, Calaveras, Amador and Mariposa. If drought/bark beetle infested trees have the potential to come into contact with PG&E electrical facilities, the company is willing to come out and take the trees down and remove the debris from the property. It is noted that the utility will only haul away debris that it takes down. The debris must be reasonably accessible by equipment/machinery. It must also be within 100 ft. of permanent structures or within 20 ft. of serviceable roadways.

There is no cost for customers. Anyone seeking more information about the program should call PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.

The US Forest Service estimates that around 66 million trees have died in California from the drought.