What to do if there’s a power line near where you want to plant a tree
Use our online tool to choose the right tree or shrub. It can help you select a type of tree or shrub that suits you and is compatible with the power distribution system.
The search tool gives all the details about the trees and shrubs listed, with photos. It also tells you the safe planting distance from a distribution line. By planting at least that far away, you can avoid all kinds of problems. You’ll ensure your tree has all the space it needs to grow without losing its natural shape or coming too close to a medium-voltage power line.
Take care with climbing plants
Never plant a climbing plant near a utility pole. It could grow up the pole, which would complicate our maintenance work and could cause outages!
NEVER attempt to trim vegetation near a medium-voltage line yourself!
Recognizing medium-voltage lines
What to do if there may be underground utilities
Whether or not you know if there is underground infrastructure (power, telecommunications, cable TV, sewer, natural gas or water lines, etc.) buried where you want to dig, you should never take any risks.
What to do if there’s a pad-mounted cabinet
In neighborhoods with an underground distribution system, cables are buried in underground conduits, while metal cabinets above ground contain other equipment.
Never dig around a pad-mounted cabinet. There are actually live wires and ground wires buried around the pad. Digging there could be dangerous and damage the devices that keep the equipment safe.
Never camouflage a pad-mounted cabinet with vegetation or any sort of panel. Hydro‑Québec employees have to be able to locate this equipment easily and have access to it at all times for normal maintenance and emergency repairs.
Clearance in front of a pad-mounted cabinet
The area in front of a pad-mounted transformer must be kept completely clear to leave room for the doors to open and to ensure the safety of Hydro‑Québec personnel.
Clearance at sides and back
There must be a one-metre clearance on the sides and behind a pad-mounted transformer. No trees, bushes or flowers can be planted within this area. Branches and foliage from nearby trees and other plants must not encroach on this clearance area.
When planning your landscaping near a pad-mounted transformer, you should take into account the dimensions of all trees and bushes at maturity. Regular maintenance of your plantings is also important so that they don’t become invasive.
The concrete base of a pad-mounted transformer must remain unobstructed, free of any earth, mulch or branches.
