Some Tulsa homeowners upset about PSO's tree trimming procedures

With storm season bearing down on northeastern Oklahoma, power company crews are out in full force trimming trees or removing them altogether to keep them away from power lines. <br/><br/>AEP-PSO says

Tuesday, March 29th 2005, 9:25 pm

By: News On 6

With storm season bearing down on northeastern Oklahoma, power company crews are out in full force trimming trees or removing them altogether to keep them away from power lines.

AEP-PSO says the beefed-up chainsaw work is meant to insure fewer outages, but some homeowners say heavy handed crews are crossing the line, trimming trees well outside the power line easement area, cutting some all the way back to the trunk.

Homeowner Herb Beattie: "They have absolutely no right to go back to that tree where they cut it off."

Steve Penrose with PSO: "It's not really an easement issue as it is a case by case basis on the species of tree we're dealing with. We will cut the amount of tree needed to provide the clearance to keep the tree out of the line."

PSO's new cutting campaign calls for crews to go out once every four years.

Officials say anyone with concerns about trimming plans on their property should call the company's forestry department at 599-2308.