For the 26th consecutive year, National Grid has been named a 2025 Tree Line USA utility by the Arbor Day Foundation, recognizing our commitment to proper urban tree management in our Massachusetts and New York service areas. National Grid is the program’s most-awarded energy delivery company in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

“At National Grid, we take a responsible, sustainable approach to lessening the impact trees have on our ability to deliver uninterrupted service to our customers,” said Matt Barnett, National Grid Chief Operating Officer for Electric. “Trees are important parts of our customers’ lives and the communities we serve, which is why we set such a high standard for our forestry practices. It is an honor to be recognized once again for our company’s dedication to smart, careful tree management.”

Tree Line USA, a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters, recognizes public and private utilities for pursuing best practices that protect and cultivate America's urban tree canopy. In addition, Tree Line USA promotes delivering safe and reliable electricity while maintaining healthy community forests.

Our customers benefit from tree-trimming programs through increased service reliability and fewer potential outages. Properly maintained trees have healthier root systems, less structural weakness, and ultimately result in fewer downed lines during storms. More information on the importance of managing trees to ensure safety and deliver reliable energy is available on the National Grid’s website.

National Grid once again achieved the Tree Line USA recognition by meeting the program’s five core standards: following industry standards for quality tree care; providing annual worker training in best tree-care practices; sponsoring a tree-planting and public education program; maintaining a tree-based energy conservation program; and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. 

Tree-Planting Tips

As customers consider planting a tree on their property, National Grid offers these tips to promote safe and healthy tree growth:

• Before planting, consider the tree’s full growth potential to see if the location of the tree will affect any overhead or underground utility lines and rights-of-way as it grows over time. The ultimate mature height of the tree to be planted must be within the available overhead growing space. Proper tree species selection and placement will assure the avoidance of or minimize tree and utility line conflicts in the future.
• Always call 811 before digging. Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities can result in serious injury or death, inconvenient service disruptions, and costly fines and repairs. Damaging underground gas, electric, communications, water, and sewer lines while digging can have a major impact on communities and businesses. It’s also against the law. Make a free request at least 72 hours before digging online at 811beforeyoudig.com or by calling 811 will help everyone who digs maintain essential utility service for their communities.
• Always be mindful of overhead utilities as well. Plant tall-growing trees away from power lines along your street and lines connecting to a structure.
• Only plant trees on your property. Do not plant in utility or municipal easements or rights-of-way.
• Work safely. If you are planting or trimming existing trees near service lines, contact National Grid to temporarily disconnect service. Call 1-800-642-4272 (New York) or 1-800-322-3223 (Massachusetts) at least five days before work begins.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.