Preparing for severe weather: spring tree trimming and energy grid upgrades
Ameren Missouri works to ensure the electric grid remains resilient and reliable
Spring is here, and with it comes increased opportunities for severe weather. To prepare for these potential weather events, Ameren crews work to maintain an effective and efficient tree trimming program, while also upgrading energy grid infrastructure with stronger lines and utility poles designed to withstand destructive winds and devastating storms.
Ameren Missouri maintains trees on four- and six-year cycles, depending on the nature of the work and number of customers per mile on each electrical circuit.
“Spring storms can bring high winds, heavy rain and lightning – all of which can cause trees and branches to fall onto power lines, potentially leading to outages and creating life-threatening safety hazards,” said Amy Werner, manager of vegetation management at Ameren. “Tree trimming and vegetation control happens year-round in our communities so we can stay prepared and mitigate issues when severe weather does impact our region.”
Ameren maintains vegetation along more than 13,000 miles of power lines in Missouri and Illinois. In 2025, crews are concentrating their efforts in neighborhoods that are more susceptible to tree-related outages, while also trimming an additional 500 miles this year. Crews are utilizing a variety of methods and equipment to trim vegetation, including specialized tree trimming machinery with saws that can trim faster and more efficiently.
To ensure safety and reliability, Ameren trims trees and clears brush on rights-of-way and easements along main power lines. Customers are responsible for keeping trees properly maintained along their service drop – the line running from the main power line to their home. Ameren encourages customers to take the following steps to prevent unnecessary safety risks or outages this spring.
Inspect your property: Check for trees and branches that are getting too close to power lines and equipment.
Report hazards: If you see any trees or branches that are touching or are dangerously close to power lines, immediately report it to Ameren. To report hazards in your area, call Ameren Missouri at 800-552-7583.
Contact professionals: If tree limbs or vegetation are close to your service line, contact a qualified line clearance tree contractor to assess the situation. Some local municipalities, as well as nonprofit organizations, may offer financial assistance and/or tree removal for qualifying individuals.
Get your power disconnected: If you need trees trimmed near your service drop, contact Ameren to have your service disconnected so work can be completed safely.
“While proactive tree trimming is important to staying ahead of weather-related issues, it's also equally important for us to strengthen our energy delivery system with stronger lines and poles," said Matt Tosh, director of Ameren Missouri's Dorsett and St. Charles operations. "Over the last five years, we have installed more than 1,700 smart switches, which have resulted in saving our customers nearly 50 million minutes in outages."
To learn more about Ameren Missouri's vegetation management practices, please visit ameren.com/missouri/company/environment-and-sustainability/vegetation-management. Additionally, for more information on Ameren Missouri's work to create a reliable and resilient electric grid throughout its service territory, please visit AmerenMissouri.com/plan.