Owensboro Muncipal Utilities has a commitment to our community, a commitment to provide reliable, low-cost electric service. In an effort to keep that promise, OMU continually works to reduce electrical outages caused by trees interfering with electric lines. We have developed a program to remove trees that are located under or near the primary electric lines within our service area.

Understanding the benefits of trees and plants for environmental, aesthetic, and shade value, OMU wants to help in replacing the vegetation we remove if possible.

Bringing you reliable and safe power is a cooperative effort between OMU, as your utility and you, as the customer. To achieve this goal, we want to educate our customers as to the proper placement of trees and shrubs in relation to power lines and utility equipment. As a reference, we encourage you to review a summary of Owensboro ordinance 76-99 prohibiting the planting of trees under utility lines that will grow and interfere with lines. A copy of that ordinance is below. The ordinance not only details proper planting of trees, but also prohibits placement of shrubs around underground facilities, including pad-mount transformers.

Recognizing the importance of a beautiful and green community, OMU has developed a Tree for a Tree Program. This program provides customers a voucher worth $75 to use in replacement of trees that must be removed because they are a hazard to the lines and to workers that must maintain them. Upon approval by the appropriate OMU representative, we will remove the tree that has been designated a hazard and provide the mentioned voucher. The voucher may be used at any participating nursery to purchase plants or trees that will not interfere or threaten electrical lines or facilities. Diagrams and directions on proper planting methods are included in this brochure. As an additional incentive to you as our customer, purchases made with voucher will be at a 10 percent discount to insure value to our customers.

Stumps will be removed to six-inches below ground level. The remaining chips will be raked up and removed leaving just enough to allow for settling. Backfill dirt will not be furnished by OMU.

Access for tree and stump removal must be provided by customer, including removal and re-installation of fences.

For more information about the program please contact an OMU representative at (270) 926-3200, ext 244.

City of Owensboro Ordinance 76-99:

The "Tree Ordinance" of the city of Owensboro, Kentucky states in Section 3, Sentence 9, "Only small trees shall be planted under or within 15 lateral feet of overhead utility lines." Small trees are defined as "trees that may not be expected to attain a mature height of 25 feet or less."

OMU encourages you to be aware of utility easements on your property and to avoid planting anything that may interfere with the electrical lines or be a hazard or interference for employees working in that easement.

For information about the proper planting of trees and bushes, please visit the National Arbor Day Foundation’s website at www.arborday.org.

OMU is proud to be a Tree Line USA Utility. For more information call (270) 926-3200.