CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Residents in some Charlotte neighborhoods said they’re fed up with the trees in their neighborhoods.
Neighbors said contractors with Duke Energy are carelessly hacking away at the trees and creating eyesores in the Elizabeth-Chantilly areas.
The crews are chopping the trees to protect the power lines, but neighbors questioned whether the crews are trained.
A neighbor showed Channel 9 one tree that was badly butchered by the contractors.
When Lupie Duran saw Duke Energy contractors trimming the trees around her house, she was actually happy.
"I'm glad that they are clearing it because there's a transformer over there and there's a transformer here,” she said.
But after the work was done, she was frustrated with the results, along with many of her neighbors.
"I've been wanting to clear them, but not like that," Duran said.
Duke Energy did send out notifications to all neighbors, saying the trees are not only a concern for the power lines, but also a public safety concern.
Channel 9 heard complaints from Duran and others Friday, and found more posted online.
A Chantilly resident wrote a lengthy message on a community forum, saying, “The crews annihilated the trees on my street."
Meghan Miles, a Duke Energy spokesperson, told Channel 9 trees are the main cause of power outages.
"The last time this circuit was trimmed was in 2011, and we've had more than 50 power outages on this circuit since that time," Miles said.
Many in the neighborhood question the training of the arborists doing the trimming.
Duran said her tree is so badly butchered that the crews might as well cut the whole tree down.
Channel 9 asked another arborist to take a look at the work.
Tig Kabia, with Heartwood Tree Service, said the tree in Duran's yard, which resembled others he found in the neighborhood, might not live because it lost too much of its canopy.
"It's pretty aggressive for what I'm used to seeing,” Kabia said.
When Channel 9 discussed Kabia’s findings with Duke Energy, officials said they check the work of their contractors.
"We are happy to go back and talk with customers who have questions and concerns,” Miles said.
If you live in an area where Duke Energy is doing trimming and you are not happy with it, call (800) 777-9898.
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