Planting trees is a simple yet powerful action, which is why Oncor and the Arbor Day Foundation are once again partnering to give away more than 5,000 free trees to Oncor customers through the Energy-Saving Trees Program.

Register today at ArborDay.org/Oncor and sign up to receive two free trees per household. Supplies are limited to Oncor customers only. The registration site also includes an online mapping tool to help identify the safest and most strategic planting locations around customer homes for maximum energy savings.

The available trees, which are between one-and-three feet tall, represent four species indigenous or adapted to the Texas communities where homeowners will plant them: Vitex Chaste, Mexican Buckeye, October Glory Maple, and White Oak. The trees are mailed directly to customers just in time for planting season in the fall. The program will remain open for orders until late November, or while supplies last.

The Energy-Saving Trees program is designed to help plant free trees in the right places to promote energy efficiency and the protection of important electrical equipment. Properly chosen and sited, a single tree can help a homeowner save 20 percent on energy costs. By planning before planting, customers can beautify their communities and help safeguard both the electric grid and the safety of the public.

Trees do much more than offer shade from the hot Texas sun or baffle against the winter wind. They also help keep the air fresh – a typical mature tree can absorb 48 pounds of carbon dioxide a year, hold valuable topsoil in place, reduce flood risk and bolster natural wildlife habitats.

Oncor encourages customers to remember that trees and power lines don’t mix. By choosing tree species that are suitable for our Texas environments and avoiding planting them under powerlines, homes and business can promote environmental sustainability while ensuring the reliability and safety of electrical equipment. Remember to put safety first and enjoy a safe planting season.