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!!!

Gosh, where do you live? How shocking () Where I live the power companies or the phone companies take care of all that stuff and they do it regularly. We don't have problems like that except in freak type storms. Even if my tree, in my yard is touching my power line...they will take care of it. As they should.

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]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![/i]

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?

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.