Yet it seems that all to often, companies promote their self-interest above the desires of the public, homeowners, or even the law.

In Franklin, Tenn., homeowners and city officials were puzzled when they saw Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corp. crews clearing more than 100 trees along Highway 96. When city officials were alerted, it became apparent that Middle Tennessee Electric did not ask the city?EUR??,,????'???s permission or have a permit.

The cost would have been an estimated $25 per tree to obtain the permit. Codes Director Gary Luffman said that it appeared that MTEMC crews stopped cutting when they realized their mistake, while MTEMC spokesman Todd Palmer said that the landowner was ?EUR??,,????'??satisfied.?EUR??,,????'??

In Topeka, Kan., Westar electric company is cutting down tree limbs near transmission lines, upsetting many homeowners and city council members.

John Toda didn’t know his landscaping was a hazard until Westar tree trimmers came to his door. “I said ‘are you going to cut them all down,’ and they said yeah, we’re going to cut them right down to the ground,” Toda said. Toda agreed that safety was a priority, but he didn?EUR??,,????'???t like the way the company was going about it.

The city will be working with Westar to education the community about safe landscaping to avoid tree cutting in the future.