How can farm equipment and other machinery be safely operated near power lines?
A. Farm equipment, passenger vehicles and trucks may be safely used under and near power lines. Power lines are designed to meet or exceed minimum clearance requirements over roads, driveways, cultivated fields and grazing lands specified by the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC). Great River Energy designs transmission lines to meet NESC and other safety requirements. Recommended clearances within the NESC consider a relative vehicle height of 14 feet. Although it may appear the line has clearance exceeding 14 feet, we advise you to contact your local electric utility or Great River Energy directly if you are considering operating a vehicle with a height greater than 14 feet. You can operate machinery safely near power lines if proper clearances are maintained between machines and the power line wires.
