Call 811 before you dig

Call 811 before you dig

Do you intend to plant trees, shrubs or flower beds in your yard or start up a backyard construction project in the near future? If so, be sure to call 811 before you start!  

Make the call, for your safety and the safety of others.   

Everyone should make the 811 call before any digging project. It costs you nothing, it’s simple and it doesn’t take much time. Plus, it may help prevent a serious injury and costly damages to underground utilities like power or water lines. 

Each year, there are about 6,000 reports of underground utilities being struck in Pennsylvania, according to the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission. And every year, PPL receives reports of about 60 to 75 digging incidents in which the person doing the digging failed to call 811.  

What’s more, it’s the law. In Pennsylvania, you’re required to place an 811 call three business days before any digging that is done by power equipment like Bobcats, front-end loaders, power augers, rototillers, and aerators. We recommend that you place a call before any digging project, even if it’s with an old-fashioned shovel. 

Once you place the call, a crew will come out and use spray paint, flags or other identifiers to show areas where underground utilities exist. And if you notice a digging project going on in your neighborhood and are unsure whether an 811 call was placed in advance, make the call just to be sure.  

When you make an 811 call, please be prepared to provide the following information: 

  • County and municipality in which the planned dig is located. 
  • The street name and address. 
  • The nearest intersecting/cross street to the address. 
  • Details of the dig site, including the area of the property where excavation will occur and what kind of work is being done. 
  • When the project is scheduled to take place. 
  • The name of the company doing the work (if applicable). 

For more info about the Call Before You Dig law, visit pa811.org. And for more safety info, visit pplelectric.com/safety.

Lineworkers compete for a cause

Lineworkers compete for a cause

Keeping the lights on for everyone- in the heat and the cold, when it’s raining or snowing, or even on a blue sky day – is no easy task.

Working in the field requires agility, strength and focus, and commitment to safety above all else.

Earlier this summer, 10 of our lineworkers put their skills to the test in the 9th annual Lineman Rodeo, organized by the National Sisterhood United for Journeyman Linemen (NSUJL), in Hazleton. The two-day event raised money for the families of fallen or injured IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) lineworkers and other electric utility employees.

The PPL crew participated in several events that test their skills against colleagues from utilities, including Speed Climb, Hurtman Rescue, and others. Our linemen and their teams placed in six of the events.

Congratulations to all the competitors!

Safety is everyone’s responsibility, meow and furever

Safety is everyone’s responsibility, meow and furever

Safety is a core value for us at PPL. Because of that, we have many procedures in place to keep employees safe on the job. One particular safety procedure, referred to as “circle for safety,” requires that employees check the surroundings of their company vehicle before getting in and driving away.

Recently, one of our dedicated lineworkers, Joe Keeney Jr., prevented the loss of an animal’s life by circling his work vehicle for safety.

It all started with an unidentified noise…

Joe heard a strange sound coming from his vehicle and couldn’t figure out what it was. He saw nothing unsafe or unusual, but as he stepped back and paused, he heard the noise again. However, he was still unable to locate where the strange sound was coming from.

He enlisted the help of a coworker to see if there was something he missed. As the two examined the vehicle, they heard the noise again, but this time they identified the source.

As it turns out, Joe’s work truck had picked up a furry hitchhiker. A small kitten crawled underneath the truck and up onto the drive shaft to stay warm.

kitten in backyard

And boy was this kitten a cute one! For those wondering, Joe and his wife, Laura, adopted the kitten and named it Kilowatt.

We’re so proud of Joe for his questioning attitude, safety mindset, and vigilance, which ultimately saved Kilowatt’s life.

 

 

 

 

Keeping Lines Clear, Reducing Outages

Keeping Lines Clear, Reducing Outages

Trees are the number one cause of storm-related outages. That’s why we take a proactive approach to keeping lines clear.

Thanks to the combined efforts of our vegetation management program, in 2020, we reduced tree-related outages by 14 percent over the prior year.

Here’s how we do it:

Routine trimming

We trim trees across 33,000 miles of overhead power lines to reduce the risk of outages. We have an established time- and- condition based maintenance program to make sure we’re trimming trees at the right times. We also use data analytics and innovative technology to identify the areas with a higher probability of tree-caused outages.

Don’t attempt to trim or remove trees near our lines on your own. Our qualified line clearance tree trimmers have specialized training to work around our power lines. If you want to remove a tree growing within 10 feet of a power line, call us first.

Goodbye hazard trees

Imagine how difficult and dangerous it is when a large tree brings down power lines in a storm. Assessing the damage, clearing the area for safe repairs, and restoring power to those impacted by a downed line can take hours.

That’s why we proactively remove hazard trees that pose a threat of falling and damaging our lines with permission from the property owner. The removal of these trees in advance of a storm prevents significant damage, removes a safety risk for the public and our employees, and reduces the likelihood of power outages.

In addition to tree trimming, we install animal guards, inspect and maintain our lines and equipment, and continue to improve our smart grid technology to provide you with reliable service all throughout the year.

 

Improving reliability & feeding Tatu

Improving reliability & feeding Tatu

Each and every year, we conduct tree trimming throughout our service territory to help maintain reliable service and prevent outages. While getting the customers the power they need is certainly our main focus, one of the unique benefits of successful tree trimming is feeding animals like Tatu, the giraffe, at the Lehigh Valley Zoo. Giraffe at the zoo eating tree branches

Instead of ending up in a chipper, the smaller branches and tree debris we collect through our vegetation management program are donated to help feed the animals. Tatu, and his other leaf-loving friends at the zoo, can enjoy this especially delicious fare that assists in keeping the animals’ digestive systems running smoothly.

Trees are the number one cause of storm-related power outages, which is why we have an established time-and-condition based maintenance program to make sure we’re trimming trees at the right time.

In 2020 alone, we reduced tree-related outages by 14 percent from the prior year. This work is essential to keeping the lights on and great for curbing Tatu’s appetite.