Electrical Safety

• Keep a stock of canned food in your cupboard along with a manual can opener
• Consider buying a camp stove and fuel that you can use (outdoors only) if you can’t cook on your electric stove
• Tape MVEA’s phone number on your refrigerator so it will be handy if you must report an outage (Do not take it for granted that your neighbor has made the call)
• Your cordless phones will not work, so have a traditional phone that you can use
• Dress in layers to stay warm during a winter outage
• Prepare an outage kit that contains:

• Know the height of all farm equipment and of nearby power lines
• Never move equipment under a line if you are unsure of the clearance
• Avoid moving large machinery alone
• Enlist someone to monitor you as you drive to prevent contact with overhead lines

• Take caution when lifting or moving irrigation pipe. The combination of metal irrigation pipe and high voltage electricity can be deadly.

• Periodically check grounding rods and wires around buildings and power poles.
• These rods and wires can become damaged and broken. If damaged, the overall system will not provide adequate grounding protection.

• Always assume that utility lines are “live” – or energized – and keep far away from them
• Be especially attentive after wind, ice, or heavy snow storms when wires may have fallen to the ground
• If a power line hits your car, drive slowly away from the line if you can do so safely. If not, stay inside and wait for rescue workers. If you must get out because of fire or other danger, jump clear without touching metal and ground at the same time. Shuffle away keeping both feet on the ground. Downed Power Line Safety Sheet (PDF).

Use extra caution when you, or your contractor, are using a ladder while working outside around your home.

• Look up first! Ladders, regardless of what they’re made of, can become electrified if brought into contact with overhead electric wires
• Wooden and metal ladders can conduct electricity

Contact the Utility Notification Center of Colorado at 811 at least 3 days before you plan to dig.

• Colorado law requires underground utilities to be located before anyone digs
• Whether you are a contractor working on a site or a homeowner working around your own home, please note: digging can be dangerous if you don’t check first for underground wiring, cable, or other underground utilities such as natural gas lines, water, or sewer lines.

• Don’t use outdoor power tools – electric drill, hedge clipper, sander, electric mower – in the rain or while working with or on wet surfaces
• Consider installing a ground fault interrupter on outside outlets

• Electric wires may be concealed in the trees or shrubs you want to trim. Before you trim trees or shrubs, inspect the area carefully to ensure that it’s clear of wires.
• MVEA has the right, within public or private rights-of-way and easements, to trim trees and otherwise remove obstructions that are in violation of National Electrical Safety Code requirements, or that may prohibit safe, efficient operation, or restrict safe access to electrical facilities.
• Trees are routinely trimmed around MVEA overhead electric distribution lines.

Please contact MVEA if you notice a tree that may be creating an electrical hazard by:

• Be sure electrical equipment for your swimming pool is grounded properly.
• If you’re installing a pool, have it inspected by your town’s electrical inspector when the job is completed.
• A ground fault interrupter should be installed on your pool’s electrical equipment. If a fault occurs in the equipment, the interrupter will instantly cut the power, preventing a serious electric shock.

• Never construct a kite from wire or metal; always use paper or wood. That goes for the tail, too; it should only be made of dry string or cloth.
• Check your string or cord to make certain that it does not contain wire or carbon filament that is conductive.
• Always keep your kite away from electric power lines and choose a clear, dry day for kite flying.
• If your kite should get snagged in power lines or in a tree in which lines might be concealed, don’t try to free it yourself. Contact MVEA or seek help from your local authorities.

• Before you work on a rooftop television or citizens band radio antenna or install a satellite dish, be sure the area is clear of power lines.
• Install these devices where they won’t touch or fall on electric lines.

• MVEA’s contractor inspects poles in our territory.
• Generally, they will have a sign on their vehicle, wear company hats, and carry an I.D. Badge