whose responsibility is it to keep branches off power lines,anyway?

It's actually the responsibility of the the people who own the tree.. I hate to say it if it's your neighbors tree it is your neighbor who has the responsibility to trim it back from the power lines. I have to say that you should have a talk with your neighbor about if this does happen again and someone gets hurt that they are going to be responsible for it.. They can be sued for the damages caused. I'm surprised the power company had not charged them for the time that they have spent in repairs. LOL!!!

I think it is up to the electric company to keep them off of the lines. There are some people who plants trees by them though. If you plant your own by them, then it should be your responsibility but it is so dangerous for a normal person to be by the lines at any time so I am not really sure.

The power company cut our tree down. They told us they would because the lines ran through it. I don't know why they would not take care of that one.

I think it's God's job to cut the branches down and to punish us for our impunity to nature, he cuts them down on our power lines so that we can't sit at home every once and a while and enjoy an evening with Spongebob on the Boob Tube or have a microwavable burrito. Tell your local Mayor and Town Committee people to grow-up and delegate that job to someone.

We have the same situation last 2006 and our neighbor cut it because it's their tree and since that time there are many trees were destroyed by the storms, the electric company helped them also!
Hopefully, someone will take an action to this, you can report to any officials in your area so that they can call the attention of the owner before it will destruct anything!

If I remember correctly, when I owned a house with powerlines going through a tree. The electric company would remove the branches really high. But we were told if branches fell and took out out powerlines, we would have to pay to have them reinstalled. That our home owners insurance shoudld cover it. We were required to keep the tree branches cut back from the powerlines.

My Mom has run into this problem and here's what they told her "if the branches are actually touching the power line, they'll cut them...if their just hanging over them or supporting 40 Lbs. of ice just above them, they won't touch them"...seems kind of stupid b/c they'd save a fortune in re-wiring if they'd just cut them and be done with it.

-FROM THE ASHES-

I think it is so inconsiderate of you neighbor not to trim down the branches of those trees... and inconsiderate of the electric company not to do any action... in this case i think you should file a petition in your community to have those branches trimmed for the sole reason of safety...

In this case... i think it is indeed the responsibility of your neighbor to trim down the tree branches...

If the trees hang over onto your property,
even at a great height, you could cut that
part off and then sue your neighbor for payment.

Check with your local ordinances to see what your
remedies are.

I'm really surprised at the electric company
attitude.

Usually, they're very vigilant about making
sure that tree limbs are not allowed to remain on
power lines.

Just keep reporting them to every city agency
that you can find. Eventually, you'll run across
an agency in charge of such enforcement.

I wouldn't be surprised if your neighbor would
be subject to severe penalties.

Is this a matter you could take up at a city council
meeting?

It depends on local laws but usually it is the owner of the property where the tree is who is responsible. The electricity company might be able to get a court order to force the property owner to cut the trees back - or get it done and send them the bill.

Where the electricity company might become responsible is that they know the trees are a hazard and they might be ignoring their "duty of care" by not dealing with a dangerous situation - hence they should have legal power to get the trees cut back.