Oncor customers can get free trees | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Plant a tree, lower the electric bill.

Homeowners who sign up and live within the Oncor Electric Delivery service territory during the Energy-Saving Trees program can get two shade trees, 2 to 3 feet tall.

“If we deliver their electricity, they’re eligible for the program,” Oncor spokesman Kris Spears said. “It’s really designed to have the customers of homes learn where the best places to plant are.”

Bur oak, Texas redbud, pecan, Mexican white oak and cedar elm varieties are available. A total of 6,500 trees will be given away, first-come, first-served. The trees will be delivered to homes in the fall, according to a news release.

The program aims to help plant trees to promote maximum energy savings and protect important electrical equipment.

The best places to plant for maximum savings are on the east and west sides of the property, blocking the sun as it rises and sets, Spears said. Trees also can act as wind buffers, he said.

The program also helps educate homeowners about the dangers of planting vegetation, especially trees, near electrical equipment on the ground and power lines, he said.

When registering for the trees, customers fill in the address, then place a polygon around the home, Spears said. The next step is moving a cursor around the polygon to see the potential savings for the particular spot the cursor is on.

Once they find the best spots, customers confirm their account by providing an identification number found on the bill, and then wait for the trees to arrive, Spears said.

Oncor serves 402 communities in west, north and east Texas, he said.