Its still not free though, the power company pays for the crews out of the money paid in everyone's bills... So in effect the poor planting choice is costing all the other customer's money. This makes stupid choices in planting all our problems. This is an aside, but related: In our country, we still allow many activities on private land even though it may affect common goods. That is what we do. In this particular case, we let the private property owner do their thing. Yes, our bills go up slightly as a consequence of allowing private property rights to dictate dumb actions on private land (don't bring this up this way to your far-right friends). So. Several years ago the Private Property Rights movement took their failed campaign from DC to the states, and sought to expand rights on private property, to include effectively repealing zoning. It failed miserably, and it was easy to defeat their campaign (it did not take very long to make folks understand the implications of the initiatives). The public meetings had excellent discussions from both sides, but the PPR movement didn't stand a chance. The point being is that most people understand private property and generally accept that things like this happen, and are willing to have laws on the books that restrict action, but not too much action. And we as a society work to keep it pretty much as is and generally we are happy with the status quo. So. If the power company needs to spend too much money to maintain poorly-sited trees, they will pass more costs to us, a limit will be reached, we will say something, and they'll do something. You can't legislate that everyone must be intelligent and do their homework on every subject. It just can't be done. If the power company wants to charge them, they will. Otherwise they must think the absorbed costs are below equilibrium. [/deep land use philosophy] Dan

I get my mulch from a local tree trimmer who lives around the corner from me. He told me he'd bring me all I want, for free. Saves him about $10 a load at the city landfill. One year he brought me about 15 loads in two weeks! I was crying "uncle"! I still have one load left to use and now it's deteriorate almost to soil. Perfect for raised beds. I line the bottom of my raised beds with several layers of newspaper and/or cardboard. It helps the recycle center clear some of it out and it helps smother out any weeds I might have missed. Over time, it biodegrades and enriches my soil. And of course, it's free--one of the best words in the English language. LOL Call some tree trimmers. They work all over the county or state. And if they're trimming trees out your way, they'll be happy to drop you a load when they're done, probably for free. Be sure to ask them in their blades are sharp. If they haven't sharpened them recently, they spit out shredded stuff that is too big to use as mulch. Asplundh dumped a load here last year that was totally unuseable. I couldnt' even get a pitchfork in it. My tree trimmer knows what I use it for, and he won't bring me diseased stuff or anything that's not properly chipped.

I disagree with everyone here.. TXU(Oncor) does not butcher trees. Most Foremans or Supervisors ARE Arborist and have the knowledge to cut trees properly. They do come around when thta area is Due(or someone on that circuit is having arcing or power outages due to trees. The people that plant trees in the 20FT span should know better. ANd BURIED lines--- They are going to be ripping up all your landscaping to fix it and they don't have to put it back. TXU has a lot of power and it has many laws saying what they can do. They take 10ft 4inches which BTW is the MINIMUM requirements as to not BUTCHER the tree- if you complain and fight- they take the max which is 20 ft so they don't have to deal with you again for a long long time. If you threaten verbally or physically it is automatic arrest(if the Supervisor says) Most understand and will cut come slack. And many Tree trimming companies can not trim Trees in the Power line area unless certified to do so. Many people have learn the hard way- and it cost thousands of dollars for those trimmer to trim your lines- But letting you know now- After the fight-- TXU(ONcor always wins) The law that was passed along time ago stands and gives them power to no supply your electricity if they can't trim. I have seen a multitude of lawyers loose to this law. Or TXU cut power to the house(everyone on that circuit!) and the owner can do nothing- If there are no lines-- no other electric provider can come in. Its a shame that people feel that ELECTRCITY is a RIGHT and not a privilege! Those tree trimmers work in ASURD climate and hours- and I know personally that my boyfriend(Supervisor for his crews) has worked over 30 + hours WITHOUT sleep(as well as his crews) to get trees trimmed in a STorm(ICE-Tornaodo-whatever casues trees to cause outages) TO GET peoples eletric back on-MANY times while his family is sitting at home in the dark and cold without electriciy.. You peopl do not appreciate the work these people do for you...

. I've got a 2.8 kW PV system . . had trouble obtaining the PV panels => supposedly Europe was consuming most production as they've got incentives => they pay YOU more for a kWh of juice produced "green"; than you pay them for the same "dirty" kWh. They are NOT cheap => and I've heard / read that every dollar spent reducing consumption; SAVES $20 in the cost of a system. A good, quick payback of sorts . . not to mention the greater good it does for us all . . . As long as many / crucial members of the gov't are oil boys; you won't see much change in the political climate for favoring renewable / efficiencies etc. There's LOTS of money to be made with things the way they are; and those controlling it aren't willing to give up their cash cow. I think they don't care what they leave behind for their children . . . but for a big pile of cash. De-centralized production ( PV, wind, smaller / green plants ) also digs into the power structure => all concentrated in the power plants. Give up the monopoly; give up the power that accompanies it. Keeps all of us mindless general public in line so to say . . . New York has some pretty good incentives right now; not sure why but they do. They paid $4 / kW of installed PV panels; also net metering required, as is buyback of excess although it's only less than a nickel for a kWh I pay them 15 cents for. Reduce use, make your own . . conserve. It'll be that much longer until the "big one" when oil essentially runs out some day . . if we make it that long . . then we can burn coal . . . . or nukes . . . or we can conserve / produce now . . . . Bob