Overhead Power Lines

Overhead Line Facts

• About 55% of Union Power’s active lines (approximately 3,100 miles) are overhead lines.
• Overhead lines are generally less expensive to install, but this depends on the location and distance of the line needed.
• Overhead lines are easier to maintain and repair than are underground lines.
• If trees, winds, or ice damages overhead lines, our crews work to restore power quickly.

When there’s an outage, what does it take to get the power back on? Click here for steps to restoring power. Click here for information on reporting an outage.

Overhead Lines & Safety

• Stay away from downed power lines! Call your electric co-op to report it immediately. Avoid contact with overhead lines during cleanup and other activities. Assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged.
• Attaching signs or other objects to utility poles without the cooperative's consent is illegal. It also poses serious safety risks for line workers, making the pole unsafe and sometimes impossible to climb. And nail holes allow moisture to enter the pole, causing premature decay.
• Never allow children to climb utility poles or play near a line of any kind. Flying kites or building tree houses in trees near power lines is dangerous. Teach children never to touch a power line and to tell an adult if they see a utility line on the ground or hanging from a pole or tree. Report downed or damaged lines to your electric co-op immediately. For more electrical safety tips, games, and fun, click here to visit our Kids Korner section.
• Remember not to plant trees under or near power lines. Trees can become energized when in contact with power lines, and branches can break or bend, interrupting electric service along the line. Click here for more tree safety.