The law requires street trees to be trimmed to ensure there is a minimum safety clearance between trees and power lines. Tree trimming reduces the risk of:
- accidental electrocution,
- fires caused by electricity, and
- power interruptions caused by branches touching overhead wires.
In fact, about 60% of all power outages in Melbourne are caused by external factors like trees coming into contact with power lines. So effective tree management can have a significant impact on the reliability of your electricity supply.

