Duke Energy Florida has announced it will distribute 1,000 free trees to its customers as part of an ongoing partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation. The initiative is set to coincide with Florida Arbor Day on January 16, allowing customers to request a tree online while supplies last.
The company’s program aims to encourage planting the right tree in the right place, helping reduce risks to power lines and improve long-term power reliability. Customers who participate will receive a one-gallon tree shipped directly to their homes, along with instructions for planting and care. Tree species available include sweetbay magnolia, crape myrtle, live oak, ‘Shoal Creek’ vitex, and Flordaking Peach.
Melissa Seixas, president of Duke Energy Florida, stated: “When the right tree is planted in the right place, it can help provide shade and cleaner air, while reducing vulnerabilities to the power lines nearby. This year’s giveaway of 1,000 trees is another way we’re working with the communities and customers we serve to grow healthier tree canopies and support long-term power reliability.”
Duke Energy Florida employs certified arborists and environmental specialists who work throughout the year alongside contractors to identify hazards near power lines. Their responsibilities include trimming trees, applying herbicides, and removing vegetation that could threaten electrical infrastructure.
Since 2017, Duke Energy Florida has distributed more than 15,000 free trees through its collaboration with local communities and the Arbor Day Foundation. The company has also been recognized by the foundation for nearly two decades for its management practices regarding trees near utility lines.
Customers are encouraged to consider factors such as mature size and shape when selecting a tree. Planting away from power lines helps minimize debris-related outages during storms or maintenance activities. Residents are also reminded not to trim trees around power lines themselves due to safety risks.
For additional information about safe planting practices around electrical facilities or guidance before digging on private property—such as calling 811 or using Sunshine811.com—customers can visit Duke Energy’s Right Tree Right Place website.
Duke Energy Florida serves approximately two million customers across a 13,000-square-mile area in Florida with an energy capacity of 12,500 megawatts. Its parent company operates electric utilities serving millions across several states and continues investing in grid upgrades and cleaner energy sources.
