A New Hammock, Two Doomed Pines, and One Michigan Utility Easement Lesson

Talk about horrible timing. I recently hung a new hammock between two backyard pines to surprise my wife. Two days later, Consumers Energy notified me that both trees would need to come down. Nothing says romance like scheduled vegetation management.

RELATED: These 10 States Have the Most Power Outages and Michigan Ranks High

To be clear, power lines run through both pines. One angry Michigan storm could drop a tree, take out my power, and knock out several neighbors, too. The utility has a point... just horrible timing.

Why Michigan Utilities Can Remove Trees on Private Land

A hammock hangs between two pines trees.

Again, not complaining, but it made me curious. So, I did some digging. The authority usually comes from a utility easement or a public right-of-way. Consumers Energy describes an easement as a legal property right that allows it to access private land and maintain its equipment. You still own the land, but cannot interfere with authorized maintenance.

Michigan line-clearance rule requires utilities to protect safety and reliability with programs like tree trimming. For planned work, owners must receive notice 3 to 90 days beforehand (which seems like an awfully wide margin). Emergencies are exempt because falling limbs don't take appointments.

Consumers say planners mark trees with a blue dot for trimming or a blue X for removal. One of the tougher pills to swallow is that they will cut the tree into manageable chunks, but the landowner is responsible for removal. That's great news for someone with a wood-burning stove, but a bit of a pickle for those without.

How to Fight for a Tree in Michigan

A hammock hangs between two pines trees.

Call that forester before the crew arrives. Ask why removal is necessary, request pruning instead, and ask to see the easement's boundaries and wording. Consumers Energy says recorded easements may be available from your county Register of Deeds. Photograph everything and get any agreement in writing.

RELATED: How Squirrels and Wildlife Knock Out Power in Michigan

Still stuck? File an informal complaint with the Michigan Public Service Commission. The utility has up to 10 business days to investigate. It might help, but it isn't a magic tree shield.

As for the fate of my newly hung hammock? Well, after speaking with the forester, I was able to negotiate to have both trunks left 10 feet tall for my hammock. While the service hasn't been completed yet, we'll see whether or not the chainsaws got the memo.