When comparing trees on single-phase lines to 3-phase lines, what is the conclusion?

Trees on single-phase lines are more likely to cause outages due to the way electrical distribution systems are designed and operate in relation to tree contact. In a single-phase system, there is typically a single line that carries the electrical current. If vegetation comes into contact with this line, it can lead to a short circuit or an interruption in service, directly affecting the flow of electricity to the consumers connected to that line.

While both single-phase and three-phase lines can experience outages due to trees, the impact of a tree falling or coming into contact with a single-phase line is usually more pronounced because that single line is carrying the necessary current on its own. In contrast, a three-phase system distributes the electrical load across three conductors, so an issue on one line may not necessarily result in an outage. This redundancy means that while trees can still cause issues on three-phase lines, the likelihood of an outage caused specifically by the direct interference from vegetation is reduced.

Understanding these dynamics illustrates why trees on single-phase lines represent a greater risk for outages, as the failure of one line can lead to immediate service interruptions for all customers served by that line.