Jun 17, 2016 | Safety and Security
The arrival of summer brings with it sun, fun and plenty of time spent outdoors, particularly when trying to catch up with projects around the house.
When tackling those household jobs, don’t forget to keep safety in mind, particularly around electricity. Statistics indicate that about 400 people are electrocuted each year in the U.S. and thousands more are injured as a result of electrical incidents. Summer is typically the prime season for those types of injuries.
7 Tips to help keep you safe while trying to check off all those items on your summer to-do list.
1. Be wise around wires. Summer is thunderstorm season, and while we’ve made significant investments in strengthening our system, fierce thunderstorms may bring down lines. No matter what the season, stay at least 10 feet away from fallen power lines and always assume that the wire is energized. Report the fallen wires to 1-800-DIAL-PPL.
2. Climb with caution. The summer months are a good time to do maintenance on roofs, trees, and shutters. When climbing ladders to do those jobs, be aware of any power lines that may pose a risk and avoid making contact with those lines. Always stay at least 10 feet away from those lines and make sure anything you are holding or touching is at least 10 feet away.
3. Before digging, call 811. Summer is prime yard work season. If a home improvement or landscaping project requires digging with power equipment, make a toll-free 811 call three business days before work starts to request a survey of underground utilities. Call 811 if it appears digging in your neighborhood is being done without a survey.
4. Keep power equipment away from water. If you undertake a yard project that requires power tools and extension cords near a pool, pond or water fountain, make sure to keep those devices and cords away from water and wet grass. Make sure that the cord used for the tool is plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter.
5. Don’t overextend power cords. When cutting the grass or trimming weeds with electric-powered equipment, make sure extension cords aren’t damaged or frayed. Don’t overload them and don’t use multiple extension cords together.
6. Hold on to those balloons. Graduations and pool parties are summer staples. If your preparation for a party involves Mylar balloons, make sure to tie them down. They can cause power outages if they touch electrical lines.
7. Be cool AND safe. When you return indoors from a day of outdoor chores, you want a safe, properly functioning air conditioning system. Have a licensed inspector look over the system to make sure it’s operating safely and efficiently.
For more on electrical safety, visit pplelectric.com/safety.
Jun 14, 2016 | Safety and Security
Mother Nature’s electrical fireworks can be deadly. Nearly 50 people are killed by lightning each year in the U.S. and hundreds more are severely injured.
Courtesy of the National Weather Service, check out a few lightning myths and facts to stay safe:
MYTH: If trapped outside during a lightning storm, lie flat on the ground.
FACT: Lying flat just increases your chance of getting hit by potentially deadly ground current. Keep moving toward a safe shelter.
MYTH: If there is no rain or clouds, you’re safe from lightning.
FACT: Lightning has a long reach. “Bolts from the blue” can strike 10-15 miles from a thunderstorm.
MYTH: A lightning victim is electrified and you risk electrocution if you touch them.
FACT: The body does not store electricity and it’s perfectly safe to give first aid. Don’t be afraid to come to their aid. You could save a victim’s life.
For more electrical safety tips, visit pplelectric.com/safety.
Feb 19, 2016 | Safety and Security
Construction workers, law enforcement and firefighters can be around power lines more than most of us.
They may work with digging equipment and cranes, respond to vehicle accidents involving downed wires, and fight building fires. A wide variety of situations can bring them close to power lines. To help them stay safe around electricity, we offer free information kits to assist them in becoming more informed about the potential dangers around them.
The kits for our Worker Beware and First Responder Beware programs include a video, booklets, slide shows and trainer guides so whole groups can become better educated together.
Each year, we send out thousands of fliers to contractors and first responder groups to let them know about our program. But waiting for a mailing isn’t the only way to get great safety information. Our safety website has links where the free kits can be ordered.
We care about the safety of all those who live and work in our service territory. Maybe a free information kit is just what your group needs to help everyone work safer.
Jan 22, 2016 | Safety and Security
Portable generators can bring you power when storms knock out electricity. But they also can bring heartache if used incorrectly.
Nearly 80 percent of the more than 900 carbon monoxide deaths between 1992 and 2012 were associated with generators. Half of generator-associated carbon monoxide deaths happen between November and February.
If you have a portable electric generator, make sure it’s installed and used correctly. Never operate a generator indoors or in any other enclosed or partially enclosed space, including your garage.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends generators be located at least 20 feet from windows, doors or vents to prevent deadly CO from getting into your home. Of course, CO alarms inside your home also are a smart idea.
Jan 11, 2016 | Energy Efficiency
Another winter. Another polar vortex. Another round of high electric bills?
Not necessarily. There’s plenty of opportunity to manage your home energy use and keep your bill under control. In fact, you could say the coldest snaps offer the biggest chances to save.
Here are some tips on how to save energy and money during this cold week, and during cold weeks to come:
– Heating is the average home’s single biggest energy expense, so improvements here can make a real difference. Try to set your thermostat at 68 degrees, and use a programmable thermostat to turn down the heat when everyone is asleep or out and about.
– Make sure the hot-air vents in your home are open and free from obstruction, so you get all the heat your furnace is churning out. (Kids, especially, have a knack for dropping stuff on top of the vents and leaving it there.)
– It’s best to get your heating system inspected and tuned up for maximum efficiency before cold weather arrives. But, if you haven’t done it yet, you can still get it done, to save energy the next time Canada decides to send us a bulk shipment of arctic air.
If it’s too late to get a full tuneup, you can start by replacing your furnace filter so your furnace doesn’t have to work as hard.
– Simple, quick steps that can keep hot air inside your house include installing special insulators inside electrical outlets and weather-stripping doorjambs.
– If you only want to warm up a small area, a portable heater might be a more efficient choice than cranking up the thermostat. Be sure to use these heaters safely, keeping them away from curtains and furniture and turning them off when you no longer need them.
– Since the cost of generation supply makes up the largest portion of most bills, you can save by buying your electric supply from a competitive supplier. Check out PAPowerSwitch.com to see other offers available to you. Remember to check out the terms of each offer, such as whether the rate is fixed or variable, and whether there are cancellation fees.
We invest in our delivery system year-round to keep it reliable at times like this – replacing old equipment, installing smart grid technology and trimming trees. We had no major system issues from last year’s cold weather and we’re aiming for the same performance this year. If you do have an outage at any time, please report it by calling 1-800-DIAL-PPL (342-5775) or online at pplelectric.com/outage.
Finally, if you or someone you know is concerned about paying their electric bills, you can find out more about our payment assistance programs online, or call 1-800-DIAL-PPL and talk with a customer service representative between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
