Resolution No. 20 – 08A
Clearing of SaskPower Rights – of – Way

WHEREAS trees often fall on power lines causing fires; and

WHEREAS SaskPower has taken the position that they are not responsible for the cost to extinguish these fires unless the roots of these trees are within their 10 meter right-of-way; and

WHEREAS trees generally lean toward openings in the forest, or in this case toward the power lines if the right-of-way has been cleared;

BE IT RESOLVED that SARM lobby SaskPower to either keep the tops of trees out of their rights-of-way or accept responsibility for the fires that are started when these trees fall on the power lines.

Response from Honourable Ken Cheveldayoff, Minister of Crown Corporations

SaskPower's Damage Claim Guideline provides compensation where SaskPower has been negligent in the construction, operation and maintenance of it facilities.  SaskPower does not compensate customers when the cause of damage is beyond SaskPower's control – for example, when a tree falls into a power line as a result of weather.