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.
May 13, 2015 | Safety and Security
Would you know what to do if you received a phone call telling you that your electricity would be shut off if you did not pay immediately with a prepaid card?
Scam artists nationwide continue to target electric utility customers by threatening to shut off their service based on false claims of overdue bills.
In the past, we’ve received complaints from both business and residential customers about callers claiming to be from the utility. The scammers falsely claim that the customers are behind on their bills. They demand an immediate payment by way of a pre-paid debit card for the customer to avoid having service disconnected.
How can you avoid these scams?
- Be informed about your account. You can check their account balances by logging on to pplelectric.com with your computer, tablet or smartphone. You can also call PPL Electric Utilities for your account balance at 1-800-DIAL-PPL (1-800-342-5775).
- Know your payment options. Be guarded about anyone who requests immediate payment by phone. We accept payment online, by traditional mail, at payment centers and through the use of credit or debit cards.
- Check with us. If you have any doubts about a caller claiming to represent PPL Electric Utilities, or about information given to you, hang up and call us 1-800-DIAL-PPL (1-800-342-5775) for verification. If things don’t check out, you should call your local police department.
- Know when we’d visit your home. Most visits to customer homes by us or our contractors are prearranged by the customer or through a call to the customer. If someone claiming to be from PPL Electric Utilities comes to your door, ask for proper identification that all of our employees and contractors carry. Most service employees also wear company uniforms and drive company vehicles.
Remember: If you have any doubts about whether someone is representing PPL Electric Utilities, you can always contact us for verification.
Apr 1, 2015 | Safety and Security
This is a guest blog post by Mark Santayana, project manager for PPL Electric Utilities’ Underground Facilities and Damage Prevention.
I love living in Pennsylvania! The character of the state runs the full spectrum of history and commerce, through the world-class cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to the bucolic serenity of Lancaster County and the great woods of the Northeast.
We’re also blessed with four unique and distinct seasons – Almost Winter, Winter, Still Winter and Dig Season!
Typically, April 1 is the unofficial start of what is considered Dig Season in Pennsylvania. Of course, we all know April 1 as April Fools’ Day, but in my world as PPL Electric Utilities’ project manager for Underground Facilities and Damage Prevention, Dig Season and safe digging is no joke.
As warmer weather approaches, it is often pondered: What is the true sign that spring has officially, definitely, totally sprung? Some say it is the sighting of a robin. Others will point to the crocuses and tulips peeking through the earth.
The strongest indicators from our point of view are the daily, steady surge of dig notifications submitted to PA One Call by excavators, followed quickly by multiple sightings of yellow, blue, red and green flags and mark-out paint pinpointing the locations of underground utility lines throughout the communities we serve.
It’s also visible in the early morning presence of backhoes and augers accompanied by a small army of workers dressed in hard hats and high-visibility vests swarming the rights of way, highways and byways of the state’s road system.
This April 1 marks the fifth anniversary of National Safe Digging Month.
National Safe Digging Month is formally recognized by the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and has traditionally earned the support of nearly every governor across the country.
We’d like to remind homeowners and contractors to always call PA One Call at 811 at least three business days before beginning any digging project. The first layer of defense for all excavations is to know where all the underground utility lines are located before you dig.
According to Common Ground Alliance data, an underground utility line is unintentionally damaged by digging once every three minutes nationwide, and one-third of those incidents are caused when no call is made to 811. During 2014, some 34 percent of all PPL Electric Utilities’ dig-in damages were a result of someone neglecting to call PA One Call.
We urge residents and contractors to “Make the 811 Promise” and visit www.the811promise.com. The 811 Promise serves as a reminder to make the call and to also promote the importance of 811. The site features a real-time promise tracker that allows all site visitors to view the campaign’s progress.
We’re advocating The 811 Promise as a simple reminder to always call 811 to avoid accidentally striking an underground utility line.
Spring is traditionally the peak time of the year for digging, and calling 811 is the safe way to learn the approximate location of underground utilities that include gas, electric, phone, Internet, water and sewer.
Throughout April, we’ll be promoting National Safe Digging Month. Won’t you join us?
For more information about 811, visit www.paonecall.org or www.call811.com.
Call 811 Before You Dig – Know What’s Below.
Feb 23, 2015 | Safety and Security
This is a guest post written by Jacque Creamer of PPL Electric Utilities’ Health and Safety group. He also is chief of the Fogelsville Volunteer Fire Department in Lehigh County.
Electrical hazards exist in some form for nearly all of us.
Whether you’re a homeowner working around your yard, a contractor on a job site, or a first responder out on a call, you need to know what to do to stay safe.
Hazards multiply for anyone involved in cleanup and recovery efforts following major disasters and storms. One particular danger exists around downed or low-hanging electrical wires.
Always consider any downed line to be energized.
Above all else, always consider any downed line to be energized. Be cautious. If you notice downed wires or damaged electrical equipment, contact your utility company. For PPL Electric Utilities, that’s 1-800-DIAL-PPL.
Remember: Electrical circuits don’t always turn off when a power line falls into a tree or onto the ground. Even if they are not sparking or humming, downed power lines can kill you if you touch them. Even the ground nearby can be energized.
Downed wires can energize other objects, including fences, water pipes, bushes and trees, buildings and phone and cable wires. Even manhole covers and reinforcement bars in pavement can become energized by downed wires. During storms, wind-blown objects such as canopies, aluminum roofs, siding, sheds, etc., can also be energized by downed wires.
Here are some rules to live by:
- Do NOT assume a downed wire is safe simply because it is on the ground or is not sparking. Everything should be considered energized until tested to be otherwise.
- Do NOT assume that all coated, weatherproof or insulated wire is just telephone, television or fiber-optic cable.
- Never go near a downed electric power line. Always assume that it is energized. Touching it could be fatal.
- Electricity can spread outward through the ground in a circular pattern from the point of contact. As you move away from the center, large differences in voltages can be created.
- Never drive over downed power lines. Assume that they are energized. Even if downed lines are not energized, they can become entangled in your equipment or vehicle.
- If contact is made with an energized power line while you are in a vehicle, remain calm and do not get out unless the vehicle is on fire. If possible, call for help.
- If you must exit any equipment or vehicle because of fire or other safety reasons, try to jump completely clear, making sure that you do not touch the equipment and the ground at the same time. Land with both feet together and shuffle away in small steps to minimize the path of electric current and avoid electrical shock. Be careful to maintain your balance.
Always stay away, and call 911 and your local utility company. Safety is everyone’s responsibility!
Dec 22, 2014 | Safety and Security
If you received a power tool over the holidays, please use it the right way. Following these great guidelines from the Electrical Safety Foundation International will help you complete your projects the best way — the safe way.
- Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) with every power tool to protect against electric shocks.
- When working with electricity, use tools with insulated grips to avoid shocks.
- Always plug power tools into a grounded outlet, unless the tools are double-insulated.
- Never use power tools near power lines or water pipes.
- If a power tool trips a safety device like a GFCI outlet, take the tool to a repair center authorized by the manufacturer.
- Don’t use power tools without the proper guards.
- Don’t use power tools with an extension cord longer than 100 feet.
- Always use appropriate personal protective gear
- Use extreme caution when cutting or drilling into walls with electrical wires or water pipes.
