When a tree grows into or near power lines, responsibility splits along a line that confuses a lot of homeowners, and getting it right keeps you both safe and out of a job that is not yours to do. The short version: the utility company generally handles vegetation touching its high-voltage distribution lines, while the wire running from the pole to your house is often the homeowner’s concern, and the details depend on your specific utility.
Utility companies in Georgia maintain right-of-way clearance around their power lines as a matter of grid safety and reliability, since trees contacting lines cause outages and fires. For trees growing into the main distribution lines, the ones running along the street on the poles, the utility typically manages trimming or removal within their easement, and in many cases they will handle or coordinate the work rather than expect a homeowner to. If a tree on your property is threatening those lines, the right first call is to your electric utility, not a private crew.
The service drop, the smaller line connecting the pole to your home, is where it gets murkier. Responsibility for vegetation around that line varies by utility and by where the line sits, so this is worth confirming directly with your provider rather than assuming. Some utilities will trim near the service drop, others consider it the homeowner’s side.
The one rule that never bends is safety. A tree touching, or close to, any energized line is a potential electrocution hazard, and removing it is not a do-it-yourself task under any circumstances. Never attempt to cut a tree near power lines yourself, and never assume a line is dead. Trees can also become energized through contact, so treat the entire tree and anything it leans on as dangerous and keep your distance.
There is one more buried hazard. Before any stump grinding or digging near where lines might run underground, contact Georgia 811 so the utilities can mark their lines. The marking service is free and prevents striking a buried electrical, gas, or communication line.