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Tree on a Power Line in Macon? What to Do — and What Never to Do

Published 2026-05-02 · Emergency · Safety · Storm Damage · By the Macon Tree Removal Pros crew

Of all the tree emergencies a homeowner can face, a tree on a live power line is the most dangerous — and also the one most likely to be handled wrong, because the obvious instinct (clear the tree as fast as possible) is exactly the wrong move. Here's what to do.

The single most important rule: assume any line that's down, dangling, or has a tree on it is energized and lethal. Don't touch it. Don't touch anything in contact with it. Don't try to move the tree. Call the utility first, then us.

The first 60 seconds

1. Get everyone away from the tree, the line, and anything they're touching. Stay at least 35 feet back — that's about three car lengths.
2. If anyone is in contact with the line or the tree: call 911. Do not try to pull them away. Anyone touching them while they're energized becomes part of the circuit.
3. If a vehicle is in contact with the line: the people inside the vehicle should stay inside until the line is de-energized. Stepping out — particularly with one foot on the vehicle and one foot on the ground — creates a path for current. The exception: if the vehicle is on fire, jump (don't step) clear, landing with both feet together, and shuffle away keeping feet close.

Who to call (in order)

1. Your electric utility

In the Macon area, that's one of:

• Georgia Power — the largest utility in the area. Outage and downed-line line: 1-888-891-0938. Available 24/7.
• Tri-County EMC — serves portions of Bibb, Jones, Twiggs, Wilkinson counties. Outage line: 1-866-254-8100.
• Flint Energies — serves Houston County, including Warner Robins, and parts of surrounding counties. Outage line: 1-800-342-3616.
• Central Georgia EMC — serves portions of Monroe, Lamar, Pike, Crawford counties. Outage line: 1-877-684-2421.

Tell the dispatcher: "There is a tree on a power line at [address]. The line is [on the ground / suspended in branches / dangling / sparking]." They'll dispatch a crew to de-energize the line.

Important: utility numbers and contact details change. Verify before you need them. The numbers above were accurate at time of writing but should be confirmed with your provider.

2. 911 — only if there's an active emergency

Call 911 if there's a fire, anyone is hurt, anyone is trapped, traffic is endangered, or the situation is otherwise an active hazard requiring police, fire, or EMS response. The fire department will block off the area but generally will not touch the tree or line — that's the utility's job.

3. Us, after the line is de-energized

Once the utility has confirmed the line is dead and locked-out (technically, "cleared and grounded"), we can come in and remove the tree. Call (478) 249-3898. We coordinate routinely with all the major middle-Georgia utilities and know the workflow.

Things you must not do

• Don't try to cut the tree off the line yourself. Even with a fully insulated chainsaw, the kickback or motion can complete a circuit. This is consistently among the deadliest DIY mistakes.
• Don't touch the tree at all if it's in contact with a line. Even seemingly dry wood conducts electricity. So does damp grass under the tree.
• Don't assume "the lights are off, so the line is dead." A line can be off the local circuit (no lights in the house) but still energized from upstream. Only the utility can confirm it's safe.
• Don't move the line, the tree, or anything connected to either.
• Don't use a metal ladder, garden tool, or anything else conductive near the line.
• Don't approach a fence the line is touching — chain link and even some wood fences can be energized.
• Don't drive over downed lines, even if they look small. Tires don't reliably insulate.

Special scenarios

The tree is leaning against the line but hasn't broken anything

This is dangerous but often less urgent than a fully fallen tree. The tree can shift, especially in wind, bringing the line down or pulling it from the pole. Call the utility — they can either de-energize the affected segment or send a crew to assess. Don't try to support the tree, prop it up, or pull it off.

A limb is in the line but the tree itself is intact

This often happens after thunderstorms. A heavy limb has come down on the line (or grown into it). Call the utility. Their tree-trimming contractor will typically handle it, often as part of routine line clearance work — sometimes for free, depending on the situation.

The line is on the ground but no tree is involved

Same rules. Treat it as live. Don't approach. Call the utility. Block off the area if you can do so from a safe distance (parking a car at the end of the driveway with hazards on, for example).

The line is on your house

If the line is the service drop coming into your house, your meter has likely been damaged. The utility de-energizes the line; an electrician (not us) handles the meter and panel; we handle any tree. The repair sequence usually goes: utility → electrician → tree service → roofer/contractor.

Insurance and liability

Tree-on-line situations involve more parties than typical tree emergencies. The general principles:

• Damage to the line itself is the utility's responsibility (they own the line and the easement). They handle repair without billing you.
• Damage to your home or property from the tree fall is normally a homeowner's insurance claim under wind/storm coverage. Read our insurance coverage guide for how that typically works.
• The cost of removing the tree from your property after de-energizing is usually yours — though it's often partially covered by insurance if the tree damaged a covered structure.
• If the tree was on a neighbor's property but fell across the line and onto your house, the rule of "where it falls is where the claim is filed" still generally applies — your insurance handles it first, and may pursue subrogation later.

Prevention: keep trees clear of lines proactively

If you have trees growing into or under the service drop coming to your house, that's actually your responsibility (not the utility's) on the customer side of the meter. We do utility-clearance pruning regularly and can quote it as part of routine maintenance. On the utility side of the meter, the utility's contractors handle trimming on a multi-year cycle.

For trees that are too close to lines to be safely managed by trimming, removal is often the right answer. We've covered the warning signs of trees that should come down before they become emergencies in our guide on when to remove a tree.

And if a tree just came down on a line near your home, the order is: utility, 911 if needed, us. Save the number now: (478) 249-3898.