Summertime means outdoor fun, yard and garden work, and home repairs. If those activities bring you close to power lines and other electrical equipment, make sure you think safety first.
Severe shock or electrocution are always a danger for people working or playing near electrical equipment. Power lines outside your home are not like electrical cords you handle safely around the house.
Power lines may look like they are insulated, but they are not. And they typically carry much higher voltages than the cords in your house.
For that reason, leave plenty of clearance between ladders and powerlines. Ladders — whether made of wood, metal or some other material — can become electrified if they contact a power line. Be careful when putting up antennas or other large metal objects that they are not in an area where they can contact power lines.
If tree trimming is on your job list, check first whether the tree has grown into any wires. If it has, call PP&L toll-free at 1-800-DIAL PPL (1-800 342-5775) to talk with us before you trim. Don't let children climb in trees that are in contact with power lines.
Occasionally, toys such as kites, model airplanes, balls and balloons get stuck in power lines or in trees near power lines or inside electrical substations. Don't try to free them yourself or let children go after them. Call PP&L so we can take care of the hazard.
Electricity and water do not mix. Be sure not to put a swimming pool under power lines, and don't bring electrical appliances too close to the pool.
In some neighborhoods, electrical service wires run underground. Take care when digging to plant trees, pour footers or do landscaping work. For your safety, call the Pennsylvania One Call service toll-free at 1-800-242-1776 at least three working days before you dig and someone will come out to give you the location of underground lines in the area.
Summer also is the season for electrical storms, which can cause power outages. If your power goes out, you can call PP&L's toll-free phone number (1-800 DIAL PPL) 24 hours a day to report the problem.
PP&L's automated AnswerLine system helps you report problems quickly so the company can get repair crews out as soon as possible.
If you are without power, PP&L encourages you to report the problem by calling our toll-free phone number. Don't wait or rely on a neighbor to call. The more information we have, the more accurately we can locate the source of the problem.
Prepare for power outages by keeping a supply of candles, matches, flashlights and batteries.
If you see a power line on the ground, don't go near it even if it appears to be "dead." Call 1-800-DIAL-PPL and your local emergency number immediately and keep others a safe distance away. PP&L will send a crew to the scene as quickly as possible.
PP&L, a subsidiary of PP&L Resources, Inc., provides electric service to 1.2 million homes and businesses in eastern and central Pennsylvania.