Duke Energy receives backlash in Greensboro for its tree removal maintenance

GREENSBORO -- Backlash over Duke Energy's tree removal maintenance is back in Greensboro, after an incident Thursday morning in the Westerwood neighborhood. It's the same area of the city that spurred council members to pass an ordinance regulating the utility company's trimming last year.

The neighborhood has been preparing for its first Tour of Historic Homes and Gardens, put on by Preservation Greensboro.

"They're all uniquely different, very eclectic homes, built in the early 1900s, and everybody has been excited about this tour," said Gail Barger, a Westerwood homeowner who's helped plan the event.

Barger said the Clegg's home on Crestland Avenue was on the list for the tour.

"They have been working on this yard and this home for a year," said Barger.

On Thursday morning, Duke Energy crews were at the home to remove tree limbs around the power lines.

"She had specifically cautioned them about her shrubs, and they were trampled. At least two bushes were trampled," said Barger.

Davis Montgomery of Duke Energy said the company complied with the ordinance, putting out door hangers about the work seven days before it began. He said they were never asked to change their date, or told about the upcoming home tour, but Mayor Nancy Vaughan said, "I'm not sure I would agree with that just based on some conversations I've had with the city manager's office and what I believe was relayed to Duke Energy."

After Greensboro police were called to the home, Thursday morning, Duke Energy decided to postpone the work until after the tour event takes place. It's scheduled for May 17-18.

"I had hoped that Duke would be more sensitive to their costumers, to our customers," said Vaughan.

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Duke Energy receives backlash in Greensboro for its tree removal maintenance