What We Take 
Our contractors may need to remove trees that are weak or at risk of falling onto power lines. Based on experience during Superstorm Sandy and other major storms, the majority of power interruptions are caused by entire or large portions of trees falling onto our power lines. All debris is removed by the end of the day. It's our responsibility to remove vegetative debris and wood chips from:

• Planned, routine tree trim circuit work.
• Planned removal of a hazardous condition.
• Removal of a severely damaged or dangerous tree.

 
What We Do Not Take 

• Other debris that we find on the property.
• Debris from the removal or trimming of a healthy tree that is within 10 feet of the primary and secondary wires that is removed for reasons unrelated to safety of the electrical system. This debris, including any debris that is lowered into a neighbor’s yard, is the responsibility of the owner of the property.
• Debris resulting from storm or emergency work that is needed to restore service. Under emergency conditions (including storms, high winds, or other natural occurrences) we do not take debris. During emergencies, our first priority is the restoration of power and our crews must respond to all power outage situations as quickly as possible. Please contact your town in case they can be of assistance.

 
Potential Tree Hazards
We encourage our customers to report any potential hazards to the electric system. Branches touching lower phone and cable wires or branches touching wires due to normal growth are usually not hazardous. Normal growth reaching electrical wires only will be addressed during routine tree trim. Here, we'll help you determine if a tree may be problematic.

• A tree limb on an electric primary line
• A tree limb that is pulling hard against secondary wire
• A tree is leaning on primary or secondary wire
• Wires that are touching and burning a tree
• A branch is that pulling service wires off an electric pole or house

Reporting a Hazard
If you need to report a tree hazard, please provide the following information when calling if can safely do so:

• The exact address of the location of the tree?
• Whether the injured tree or broken tree limb is contacting a power line or could it potentially fall on a power line
• If the power line is between two poles, or between a pole and a building
• If there any other potentially dangerous situations evident, such as proximity to schools, playgrounds, or bodies of water, or if nearby wildlife livestock is nearby.

Removing a Healthy Tree
If you need a healthy tree removed that is within 10 feet of the primary and secondary wires, we can help. We typically require four to six weeks’ notice to arrange for such removals, which can be delayed due to weather and other electric system operations priorities. If the removal requires a planned electric outage to your neighborhood, the process can take longer. On the day of the removal, PSEG Long Island contractors will remove the part of the tree that is within the danger zone, making it safe for the customer’s private contractor to remove the rest of the tree and the debris.

Steps to set up tree removal assistance:

• Call 800-490-0025 for residences, or 800-966-4818 for businesses to request tree removal.
• Mark the tree using tape or spray paint.
• Our contracted pre-checker/foreman will visit your property within two to five days, depending on weather conditions, to assess the need.
• If tree removal requires our assistance, our pre-checker will leave a Request for Tree Removal Assistance slip. Otherwise, a door hanger will indicate that assistance is not needed and the tree can be removed by private contractor alone.
• Vegetation Management team plans the removal, which could take up to four to six weeks. If an electrical outage is required, time to schedule a local grid outage and notify customers will make the process take substantially longer.
• If the Vegetation Management team determines that there is another tree on the property that must be removed for safety reasons, a Tree Removal Permission Slip will also be left, with an explanation to the homeowner.
• All debris left on the property and neighboring property will be the responsibility of the homeowner. Getting permission from the neighbors impacted by this removal is the responsibility of the homeowner.