FAQs

This rebuild project is needed now for the continued load growth, changing generation mix and reliability of OPPDs electric grid.  As OPPD continues to invest in renewable generation to achieve our goal of net-zero carbon production by 2050, OPPD will rebuild this line to meet modern standards.  As part of this work, any older-style lattice towers will be replaced with modern steel monopoles.

OPPD is constructing a brand new transmission line in existing right-of-way (ROW) and as such, is addressing trees in that space the same way we address trees on any new construction project.  We clear the ROW not only for the operations of the line, but for the safety of the crews during construction of the line.  Transmission construction requires large equipment with clear line of site for the safety of everyone involved.  It also re-establishes the appropriate baseline for OPPD Forestry to maintain the vegetation for the life of the transmission line.

It is important to re-establish a clear right-of-way when building a new transmission line. 

While construction of the new transmission line will not begin until this fall, we are removing trees now, with the intent of finishing by April 1.  After April 1, we can still remove trees, but we would need a biologist to review the trees for any active nests. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act is intended to ensure that no one removes or disturbs an active nest. 

In addition, removing trees during the winter is much less impactful to properties. Frozen ground and no leaves on the trees make the removal and cleanup extremely efficient.

It’s never a good idea to plant trees near power lines. OPPD’s forestry workers stress the importance of planting the right trees in the right locations to stay safe and help maintain reliable service. To learn more, visit OPPD.com/trees  or visit our educational Arboretum at 108th and Blondo in Omaha.   

Yes. Previously, it was not uncommon for OPPD to deviate from policy and allow certain trees and vegetation to remain. OPPD also allowed trimming and pruning rather than removal to provide adequate clearances between power lines and trees. This approach has repeatedly proven to be ineffective in the utility industry in preventing outages, arcing, and fire and shock hazards.

Industry standards for right-of-way management have changed in recent years as a result of several widespread outages, including one in the northeast affecting 50 million people in eight states and portions of Canada. Utilities operating high-voltage transmission lines are required to establish and follow a vegetation management program that eliminates all threats to safety and reliability of high-voltage transmission lines.

Yes. OPPD owns a right-of-way easement the length of all transmission lines allowing OPPD to trim or remove all trees and brush on or near the right-of-way as needed to safely and efficiency survey, construct, reconstruct, relocate, inspect, repair, replace, maintain, operate and remove transmission lines. This is a utility standard. The easement also permits OPPD to trim or remove trees that could potentially fall within 15 feet of the nearest power line.

We estimate 500 trees will need to be taken down on 132 properties as part of our project which spans approximately 3 miles, from 108th and Blondo to 123 and Pacific. All of the trees within the transmission easement, greater than 10 feet in height, will be removed. An OPPD forester, who is a licensed arborist, is assisting with marking the trees. In addition, trees requiring 30% or more of their branches to be trimmed will also be removed. This amount of trimming endangers a tree’s overall health and stability.

While we fully appreciate and are sympathetic to how impactful this tree-clearing work is for homeowners, OPPD felt it was important to have this communication directly with the homeowner  and a project team member. Each homeowner situation is unique, so those 1:1 discussions are best.

OPPD began calling directly impacted customers in early January, placing three calls in order to try to ensure we made contact. These calls were made to the phone numbers on record in OPPD’s customer database. We realize there are limitations with this process. It is possible a customer’s contact information may have been outdated. If the project team was unable to make contact by phone, an OPPD Right-of-Way Coordinator knocked on customers’ doors. However, if we don’t get an answer at the door, we leave a letter with our contact information for follow up. We like to sit down with the homeowners and talk about what’s being done and why, giving them an opportunity to ask questions and discuss concerns. We did make initial contact with all homeowners by January 16, and continue to follow up with them regularly as we move through the project area. 

While we empathize with our impacted customers who are losing trees, there are no other solutions. We must remove trees taller than 10 feet in the easement for the safety of the public and reliability of the line. OPPD is working on removals in the utility easements of impacted properties and has right-of-way authority to do so. On a case-by-case basis we are working with homeowners on replacement trees or shrubs while educating them on good forestry practices when planting under or near power lines.  We have heard from several homeowners that would like to attempt to transplant their tree outside of the easement. The homeowner is free to engage a local nursery to have a tree transplanted, but the cost of that work would be the homeowners to cover.

We realize that trees bring aesthetic, environmental and emotional value to homeowners. We would never remove them unless there were no other viable options. We do not provide compensation for perceived property value losses.  Unfortunately, this is an existing transmission corridor and the trees are in violation of that pre-existing easement.  However, OPPD will make any repairs that may be necessary after work is completed, in the event they suffer any material losses, such as to grass or fencing. 

OPPD will compensate landowners for any damage caused by the tree clearing, structure installation, wire stringing, or other construction access. Damage may include (but is not limited to) fences, lawn, landscaping, sprinkler systems, etc. Damage settlements will take place after the construction is complete.

The project cost is estimated at between $8 million and $10 million. It is part of OPPD’s planned budget for 2023 and will not result in an increase to customer bills.

Burying transmission lines is not always physically or monetarily feasible and would cause more disruption to the property owners during the construction process in order to dig the trenches necessary for underground transmission lines.

OPPD’s Forestry team utilizes contractors to assist with tree trimming and removal efforts. This is more cost-effective and efficient than keeping a higher number of Forestry workers on staff full-time.

As our work progresses, we will do our very best to minimize the disruptions to homeowners.  OPPD wants to be good partners with our neighbors throughout this process. Construction activities will primarily happen during normal weekday work hours.  As we get closer to construction, the project team will work through access needs and additional impacts near the new structure locations. Though construction activities may cause some noise and inconvenience, the new, smaller structures will have significant, long-term benefits for the community, aesthetically and functionally.

Our entire service area will benefit from the new transmission line’s capability to carry a higher amount of energy. This is critical as our communities continue to grow and we continue to change our generation mix to add more renewables.

We would expect partial lane closures, not full road closures, as a result of this work. All workers would have signage up if they are working from the road.  Any full lane closure would be coordinated through the City of Omaha and will be communicated to the public to minimize traffic disruption as much as possible.  Transmission line construction does require large equipment, such as cranes and drill rigs, but that equipment is typically only in one place for a few days at a time. So any traffic impacts would be short in duration.

If you are a directly impacted landowner, you may contact your right-of-way agent. Or you may visit OPPDCommunityConnect.com to learn more about this and other OPPD projects, as well as to provide input or ask questions of our team members.

We always want to keep the lines of communication open with our customers. It’s a good idea to reach out to us if you’ve had a phone number or email address change since you’ve last connected with OPPD, so we know how to reach you in the event we have important updates to convey. You can use fill out this form if you need to update your contact information: https://solutions.oppd.com/keep-current. In addition, you may sign up for project updates on OPPDCommunityConnect.com.

The Omaha Public Power District is covered for property and liability exposures through insurance programs with large deductibles or self-insured retention levels. Losses that fall within these levels are paid through the financial resources of the District.  The District self-administers its claims within these levels. Worker’s compensation, property and liability insurance requirements fall within the District’s self-retained level. Omaha Public Power District is a certified self-insurer by the State of Nebraska.