Many Golden yards have overhead power lines--including mine. My house was built in the mid-'50s and the landscaping was probably planted at about the same time. We have several trees that are intertwined with the power lines.
At least one other time during our 30+ year tenure in the house, Xcel has come along and lopped off many branches. Yesterday, one of their contractors stopped by to examine the current state of our trees and bushes. This time, they plan a more draconic approach. They will be cutting down several mature trees and hacking out the holly and juniper bushes that live below the lines.
We do not want to lose the trees and the privacy. On the other hand, we have been concerned about the fire hazard posed by trees growing through power lines. Sometime in the coming weeks, a crew of Xcel contractors will come along and cut down anything within ten feet on either side of the power lines.
The man who stopped by our house said they would be going all over Golden, conducting similar assessments and making similar plans. If you have a power line in or near your property, and trees or bushes growing near the line, you can expect a visit from Xcel.
