TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--While springtime is a great time to soak up some sun, trim your trees or
skim where you swim, Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is reminding customers
that it’s also an important time to be careful around outdoor electrical
equipment.
TEP is using bill inserts and radio commercials in March and April to
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share springtime safety suggestions that can help customers avoid
contact with energized electrical equipment. If warmer weather invites
you outside for gardening, pool maintenance or even flying a kite with
your children, use the tips below to stay safe.
Watch for hidden power lines when trimming trees, shrubs and other
vegetation.
Contact TEP’s Customer Care line at (520) 623-7711 if you have
questions or concerns about tree limbs growing near overhead power
lines on your property.
Customers are responsible for keeping foliage at least 15 feet away
from the service lines that connect their homes and businesses to
TEP’s electrical distribution system.
Customers who wish to clear tree limbs away from an electric service
line must first call TEP’s Customer Care line to ask for a free,
temporary suspension of electric service.
Take precautions to prevent tree limbs from damaging electrical
equipment when trimmed.
Contractors need special qualifications to work near energized power
lines. If you’re a contractor, ignoring safety precautions near TEP
facilities can cost you your license – and your life. Call TEP before
you start any work near our facilities.
Always assume power lines and nearby equipment are energized. If you
make contact, call TEP right away. Even if there aren’t any injuries
or visible damage, TEP must make sure the equipment is still operating
safely.
Avoid using ladders, pool skimmers and other long tools near power
lines or other electrical equipment.
Keep tools, materials and all parts of your body at least 15 feet away
from any overhead power lines and other electrical equipment.
If you need to get any closer, state law requires you to first make
arrangements for TEP to temporarily de-energize the equipment so that
your work can proceed safely. Keep this in mind when working on
antennas, satellite dishes or your evaporative cooler. Roof-mounted
equipment should be installed away from overhead power lines.
Keep long items such as ladders and poles parallel to the ground on
your way to your work site.
Wear appropriate protective gear including goggles, gloves and
enclosed footwear when using electric tools.
Do not use electric-powered mowers or other equipment on wet grass,
around water or in the rain. Always use an insulated extension cord
designed for outdoor use with the correct power rating for that
equipment.
Teach kids to never fly kites or climb trees near power lines.
If a kite gets tangled in overhead power lines, don’t try to get it
down yourself. Kite string can conduct electric current, injuring or
killing anyone who touches it.
Don’t try to retrieve kites, balls or other toys that land in
electrical substations. Instead, call TEP for assistance.
Keep balloons and remote-controlled aircraft or drones away from
overhead lines.
Teach kids to never climb or play around power poles or other
electrical equipment.
Call 811 before you dig so underground utility lines can be marked.
Whether you’re a homeowner landscaping your yard or a professional
contractor digging utility trenches, call at least two working days
before you dig. This free service – which is required by state law –
can help you to avoid making contact with underground power lines.
Keep vegetation and permanent structures away from the large, green
ground-level boxes that contain components of TEP’s underground
electrical system. TEP workers may need to access equipment near these
boxes during power outages and for routine maintenance.
Children should be taught never to sit on or play around these
electrical structures.
Treat all electric lines and other equipment with caution and respect.
Even low-voltage electric lines can be hazardous if damaged or
improperly handled. If you ever see a downed power line, don’t go near
it; call 911 immediately.
TEP provides safe, reliable electric service to approximately 417,000
customers in Southern Arizona. For more information, visit tep.com.
TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc.,
which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across
Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. To learn more, visit fortisinc.com.