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Electrical Safety

Member safety is important to us. Below is some important safety information to help keep you and your family safe.

Power Line Safety

Always be aware of the location of all overhead power lines.

  • Stay 10 feet away from power lines
  • Don’t fly kites, drones, or any flying object near power lines
  • Don’t trim or climb trees near power lines
  • When working on your roof, make sure no ladders or poles will come within 10 feet of power lines
  • Teach your children to never touch power lines, play with pad-mounted electrical equipment, or go into substations
  • Don’t place signs on power poles
  • Keep pets away from electrical equipment

Downed Power Lines

  • Contact us at (800) 972-1093 to report a downed power line
  • Don’t touch fallen lines or anything in contact with the downed line
  • Never touch a person in contact with a downed power line, call 911
  • Stay 35 feet away from downed lines
  • Warn others of downed power lines if they are approaching the area
  • If you’re standing close to a downed line, shuffle away by taking small steps and keeping both feet in contact with the ground

If you are driving and your vehicle comes into contact with a downed line:

  • Stay in the car
  • Call 911
  • Warn and direct others to stay away from your vehicle and the downed line
  • Don’t exit your car until you are told it is safe to do so

If the car catches fire:

  • Take off any loose items of clothing
  • Jump away out of your car making sure not to touch the car and ground at the same time
  • Keeping both feet together, shuffle away from the car with slow steps by keeping both feet on the ground

If you come across an accident:

  • Call 911
  • Do not approach or try to help, you can become injured or worse

Using a portable generator can be useful during power outages. However, they can be extremely dangerous if not used properly. Always read and follow manufacturer specifications and contact a licensed electrician for help with installation or how to operate.

Running Generator

  • Make sure generator is properly grounded
  • Turn generator on before plugging in any appliances to it
  • Turn on appliances and lights one at a time to prevent overloading
  • Keep generator dry and don’t operate generator in wet conditions
  • Generators can become very hot, keep children and pets away
  • Make sure generator is turned off and cool before re-fueling

Preventing Backfeed

  • Disconnect power coming into your home by switching the main breaker to off before using a generator
  • Never plug a generator directly to your home’s wiring or into a household outlet unless you have a qualified electrician install a safety transfer switch

Taking these steps are vital to prevent backfeed. Backfeed occurs when you plug the generator into your home’s wiring, such as into an outlet, which then causes electrical power to flow in reverse. It can backfeed to the utility lines. These power lines become energized. Any technicians working to restore power on these lines will be electrocuted, and cause injury or death. Neighbors, children, and animals are also at risk if they touch a downed power line.

Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

  • Never run generator indoors as this will cause carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Run generator outdoors with plenty of space for ventilation, and far away from any doors or windows
  • Install multiple carbon monoxide alarms in your home and test the batteries frequently