Dec 1, 2023 | Safety and Security
Safety for our employees at work and safety for our customers is our priority. Throughout the year, we host a variety of programs to encourage safe practices, including presenting theater performances for children, hosting a traveling safety exhibit and publishing a children’s book.
This time of year, as we adorn our communities and homes with colorful lights and cheerful decorations, it’s important to keep safety in mind. According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, there are 160 decorating-related injuries every day during the holiday season.
We’ve put together a list of eight simple tips to help you stay safe and jolly:
- Decorate by daylight – Always hang decorations during daylight hours.
- Care for your cords – Keep your cords clean and unharmed. Use plastic or insulated clips to secure your cords instead of nails, screws or tacks. Make sure all outdoor cords and plugs are weatherproof.
- Look for damage – Throw out any damaged light strands and replace them with LED strands. Check wall sockets, wires and any loose connections.
- Lighten the load – Be mindful of your electrical load. Follow manufacturer guidelines for how many sets of lights can be safely connected to your outlets and extension cords.
- Ladder matters – Always carry ladders parallel to the ground and look up for power lines before positioning your ladder.
- Space it out – Place holiday trees, candles and decorations at least three feet from fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles. You, your decorations and your equipment should always be at least 10 feet from power lines.
- Night’s out, lights out – Turn off your holiday lights and decorations before leaving home and prior to going to bed.
- Direct traffic – Avoid running extension cords under rugs or in high traffic areas.
The holidays are meant to be merry and bright, and we want you to spend these moments with those who mean the most to you. Following these tips will help keep you safe and keep your focus on the season.
Nov 2, 2023 | Safety and Security
Scammers will never miss an opportunity to trick you into giving them money or your personal information, and the holiday season presents a chance for bad actors to take advantage of your giving spirit. Wednesday, Nov. 15 marks Utility Scam Awareness Day, and PPL Electric Utilities wants to provide tips and information to help you stay safe.
Signs of a potential scam:
- The impostors may call or show up at your door and say they are from PPL Electric.
- Scammers may tell you that your utility bill is past due and will threaten to disconnect service if a payment is not made.
- You may be asked to pay immediately via purchasing a prepaid card or sending funds through a mobile app to pay your bill.
- You may be told somebody is offering lower rates than PPL, when they do not know what your current rate is.
What to do:
- PPL does not sell supplier services by phone or go door to door. If a solicitor claims to represent PPL, call us directly at 1-800-342-5755.
- Only return messages and calls to PPL at our official phone number: 1-800-342-5755.
- Create an online account. This will allow you to check account information and current supplier at any time.
- Update your email address and phone number. This will allow us to send you messages like this.
- Spread the word. If a scammer tries to target you, let your friends and loved ones know.
At PPL Electric, we deliver your electricity, but we don’t own the power plants where it is generated. If you don’t shop for electricity supply, you’ll pay the default rate, or Price to Compare, which is updated twice per year. For customers who don’t shop for power, we are committed to managing energy prices and securing the lowest cost of energy for our customers. The supply cost is passed along without markup to customers.
Remember to stay vigilant and know that anyone can be targeted at any time. Together, we can raise awareness and stop scams.
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.
