Underground Utilities
When trees reach a height where branches
touch power lines or limbs fall on lines, customers
may experience a power blink or outage. This type
of outage can occur in any weather. Even limbs
brushing a line during normal weather can cause an
outage.
When you consider landscape plans for your home,
know where the power lines are on your property.
Take the time to choose the right tree and plant it
in the right place to help ensure a safe and reliable
electric supply.
When you plant trees, be aware of buried utility lines and the
serious risks they can pose. When choosing a site, locate all
underground electric, gas, water, sewer, cable and telephone
lines.
Contact Louisiana One Call at 1-800-272-3020 48 hours in
advance (excluding holidays and weekends) of digging and
planting. Louisiana One Call will mark all underground utilities.
The Right Tree
in the Right Place
When you call, have the following information available:
Trees add value to your property with their beauty,
and they lower your energy costs.
However, trees that grow into and around power
lines can pose safety hazards. This safety issue affects
customers as well as utility workers who have to
maintain or service lines that come in contact
with trees.
You can help prevent these dangers by ensuring
your trees are properly planted and maintained.
• Your name and telephone number.
• Date and time the work is scheduled to begin.
• Specific location address or description of the work site.
• Nearest intersecting roadway to the work site.
Trees that grow into and
around power lines can pose
safety hazards.
Cleco Rights of Way
Cleco’s distribution right of way agreements allow
the company to maintain the area around its power
lines. This may include the removal of trees, shrubs
or obstructions that might interfere with or
constitute a hazard to the system. For this reason
Cleco asks property owners to follow the Right
Tree in the Right Place guidelines shown in the
center graphic.
Rights of way under Cleco’s high-powered
transmission lines can range from 100 feet to 250
feet and must remain clear of any obstructions.
Please check with Cleco for
right of way clarification,
if needed.
WARNING
• Distance and direction of the work site from the
nearest intersection.
Keep the locate ticket number provided by the Louisiana One
Call operator. It is your proof of the call. You may be requested
by an enforcement agency to provide this ticket number at the
job site.
Markings for underground utilities are considered valid as long
as they are visible up to 10 calendar days from the “mark by”
time. “Mark by” time is provided by the Louisiana One Call
operator and excludes holidays and weekends. For larger
projects, call in only the work that can be accomplished within
a 10-day period.
If damage occurs, notify the utility operator or pipeline
company directly.
If there is an emergency situation (immediate danger to life,
health or property that requires immediate attention), take steps
to safeguard health and property.
Wherever possible, use white paint, stakes or flags to designate
the area of proposed excavation.
Remember, not all utilities are members of Louisiana One Call;
you should call nonmember utility operators directly.
Please remember to call before you dig, wait 48 hours
for the site to be marked, observe the marks, and dig
with care.
Louisiana One Call can also be reached from your cell phone by
dialing #DIG
1 . 8 0 0 . 6 2 2 . 6 5 3 7
.
W W W. C L E C O . C O M
Cleco’s Guidelines for Planting
Trees on Your Property
Cleco Equipment
In addition to rights of way, pay attention to
electrical equipment around your home such as the
large green boxes that allow underground utility
service (pad-mounted transformers). Resist any
temptation to plant anything around this equipment.
These boxes house dangerous electrical equipment,
and Cleco employees need access to this equipment
at all times.
The Right Tree in the Right Place
Small Tree Zone
Trees and shrubs
Emily Brumer Holly
Burford Holly
Yaupon Holly
Martha Berry Holly
Silky Camellia
Washington Hawthorne
Hawthorne
Red Chokeberry
Parkman Crabapple
Siebold Crabapple
Portuguese Cherrylaurel
Fever Tree/Poinsettia Tree
Fringe Tree
Star Magnolia
Little Gem Magnolia
Smoketree
Redbud
Chinese Redbud
Painted Buckeye
Arnold Buckeye
Homestead Buckeye
50'
40'
30'
20'
Chinese Quince
American Plum
Amur Maple
Flowering Apricot
Chastetree
Japanese Cherry
Kousa Dogwood
Glossy Abelia
Indian Azalea
Camellia
Sasanqua Camellia
Pampas Grass
Gardenia
Starbrush
Sweet Olive
Cherokee Rose
Viburnum
Japanese Viburnum
Sweet Viburnum
Laurustinus Viburnum
Crape myrtles*
Tree Benefits
As you consider the right tree in the right place,
remember that trees can help you save on your
utility bill. For instance, shading your air conditioning
unit can increase its efficiency by as much as 10
percent.
Examples of trees that provide the most shade are:
maple, horse-chestnut, hackberry, beech, green ash,
walnut, yellow popular and sycamore.
It is also a good idea to plant trees with strong
wood. Fast-growing species with weaker wood (like
willows and silver maples) may be useful for quick
shade. However, plant stronger, slower-growing trees
among or next to them to ensure you have shade
for years to come. You can intensify shade and
reduce your lawn area by planting trees in groups.
For additional tips and information about energy
conservation, visit www.cleco.com.
10'
10'
STOP
20'
30'
CAUTION
40'
50'
CAUTION
60'
70'
GO
No tree zone!
Small tree zone
Medium tree zone
Large tree zone
No trees should be
planted within 25 ft.
of power lines.
Plant trees less than 20 ft.
in height/spread at least
25 ft. from overhead
power lines.
Plant trees 20–40 ft. in
height/spread at least
40 ft. from overhead
power lines.
Plant trees larger than
40 ft. in height/spread at
least 60 ft. from overhead
power lines.
This graphic illustrates a typical Cleco distribution line.
Please recycle.
* Some crape myrtles grow very tall in our climate. Here are a few
species that should stay small and are appropriate for planting
in the small tree zone: Acoma, Apalachee, Caddo, Catawba,
Centennial Spirit, Cherokee, Comanche, Conestoga, Hardy
Lavender, Hopi, Lipan, Osage, Pecos, Prairie Lace, Raspberry
Sundae, Regal Red, Seminole, Sioux, Tonto, William Tooney,
Yuma, Zuni.