Power Line Safety

Building of any structures within a BPA right-of-way is specifically prohibited. Coordinating with BPA early in your planning process can keep you safe and avoid wasting time and money. 

Buildings located off BPA’s rights-of-way may collect an induced voltage if not grounded correctly. BPA recommends grounding metallic components on buildings near a power line and will assist in grounding metallic objects near rights-of-way after receiving a request and conducting an investigation. 

Have questions? Call BPA at 1-800-836-6619.

Most crops, less than 10 feet in height, can be grown safely under power lines. Orchards, Christmas trees and structure-supported crops (i.e., trellises) require special consideration.

It only takes one tree to cause a region-wide blackout! In 1996, one tree from an orchard in the Pacific Northwest grew into a transmission line’s operating space and the electricity flashed over to the tree. The resulting problems culminated in a blackout that affected nearly 7.5 million customers in nine Western states. 

In 2003, three transmission lines in Ohio failed due to contacts with trees and kicked off a series of events that led to a massive power outage knocking out power to 50 million people across eight Northeast states and Ontario, Canada. 

Given that the culprits of most power outages are storms, fallen trees, and increasingly, wildfires, ensuring BPA’s 15,000 miles of transmission lines remain clear of vegetation requires a skilled team working year-round. Learn more about our vegetation management team and the important role of keeping rights-of-ways clear and identifying and removing “danger trees” here. 

Have questions? Call BPA at 1-800-836-6619.

Vehicles and large equipment that don’t extend more than 14 feet in height can typically be operated safely under BPA lines.

However, under some high-voltage lines, vehicles can collect an induced voltage. This is particularly true if the vehicle is parked on a nonconductive surface such as asphalt or dry rock. The only way to be sure you won’t get shocked is to park your car away from the high-voltage power line.

BPA has specific restrictions for parking and roads within the right-of-way to keep possible shocks at a low level. Contact BPA at 1-800-836-6619 before locating roads and parking areas within the BPA right-of-way.

Caution should be used in storing, handling and installing irrigation pipes, and in operating spray irrigation systems near power lines. Never allow the irrigation system to spray onto power lines or towers.

For more information on storing, handling, installing or operating an irrigation system on BPA rights-of-way and to apply to use BPA’s right-of-way please contact BPA at 1-800-836-6619.

• How BPA addresses EMF
• Electric and magnetic fields & transmission lines
• Electromagnetic fields and public health – World Health Organization
• A Review of the Current Scientific Literature on Health Effects of EMF – Golder Associates
• NIEHS Report on Health Effects from Exposure to Power-Line Frequency Electric and Magnetic Fields
• Question and Answers About EMF – NEIHS, NIH