Vegetation Management 2026

Tree Pruning & Removal

Merrimac Light maintains the trees and other vegetation growing near our electric utility wires. Maintaining trees and vegetation is important because it reduces the chances for power outages during storms and high winds, in addition to general safety reasons.

Tree removal or pruning is done at no cost to you. The work is limited to the areas adjacent to the overhead utility wires, and is done to maintain minimum clearances between the lines and surrounding trees.

Our goal is always the safety of our customers while delivering reliable, lower cost electricity.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the department at (978) 346-8311or office@merrimaclight.com

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

Our Approach

In order to stay on top of vegetation growth, Merrimac Light performs this maintenance every 3 to 4 years. We’ve partnered with local contractor Mayer Tree Service to perform the service, overseen by our crew. Contact Mayer Tree Service for additional information about our vegetation maintenance program.

When pruning trees, we use a method called “directional pruning” in order to direct new growth away from the wires. This technique reduces the number of cuts to the tree by removing fewer, larger limbs to produce the required clearance. This benefits the health of the tree by reducing the number of cuts that will need to heal, which in turn reduces the possibility of decay and disease.

When removing trees, stumps will be cut as close to grade as possible.

Directional pruning has been standard practice in the United States since around the 1980s. It was developed by the U.S. Forest Service and is endorsed by the International Society of Arboriculture, the National Arbor Day Foundation and other tree care professionals the world over.

If you have any concerns about trees or vegetation that may be near or touching electric wires, please call Merrimac Light at (978) 346-8311.

Clean Up and Disposal

Mayer Tree Service will chip the branches on site, and will rake the work area to pick up any smaller remaining debris and disperse sawdust. Any wood that cannot be chipped will be cut to manageable sizes and removed.

In wild, unmaintained areas, limbs and brush will be windrowed, or stacked in rows along the edge of the right-of-way. Paths, drainage ditches, or stream channels will be kept clear of debris.

Utility Line Clearance Zone

Above Electric Lines

Clearance: 15 ft.

Limbs should be pruned 15ft above wires for proper clearance. Some main limbs on mature trees can stay inside the clearance zone, dependent on the health of the tree and the speed and direction of growth.

Beside Electric Lines

Clearance: 6 ft.

Any limbs inside the minimum clearance of 6ft will be cut back to a main branching point or to the trunk, even if that point is more than 6ft from the wires. Some main limbs on mature trees can stay inside the clearance zone, dependent on the health of the tree and the speed and direction of growth.

Below Electric Lines

Clearance: 10 ft.

Low-growing shrubs and trees that will not interfere with electric wires will be left. Tall-growing brush and trees up to 8in in diameter at chest height will be cut down to ground level. These removals generally extend up to 10ft away from structures. Trees that may be leaning into the clearance zone from greater than 10ft away may be removed if there is no appropriate branch to prune to.