Important information about electrical safety.
The sun is finally starting to show its pretty face around here. Many of us are now scrambling to pull weeds, plant seeds and the like. But before you dig in your yard, drop the shovel and pick up the phone. May is Electrical Safety Month so it's time to remind everyone to call 811 (this is a new number) before digging to have underground utilities clearly marked. It's free, it's the law and it could save your life. If you hire someone to install sprinklers or do other digging in your yard, make sure they call 811 before the work starts.
Key tips for safety outdoors
- Call the PGE Hotline (503-736-5460 or 1-800-544-1794) before pruning trees near power lines to make sure.
- Don't let children play near power lines or electrical equipment. Fly kites in open areas away from power lines.
- Look up and check for overhead power lines when moving ladders or other equipment.
- Keep electric tools away from pools and wet areas. Water and electricity don't mix!
Visit our Safety section online for more outdoor tips and indoor tips. Kids can learn how to play it safe by watching the Larry the Lightbulb music videos and exploring the games in ourElectrical Safety World.
Safety saves money and lives
At PGE, safety is a top priority. In addition to emphasizing safety in the workplace, we promote electrical safety in the community, too. This includes:
- Providing presentations and materials for schools
- Participating in community safety events
- Maintaining a tree-pruning program with a tree hotline for homeowners to help prevent accidental contact with power lines
- Supporting the “Dig Safely — Call 811” campaign (we helped revise and strengthen Oregon's “Dig Safely” law)
- Conducting education outreach programs for agricultural workers
Promoting safety helps control our costs by helping prevent accidents and outages. And most importantly, it helps save lives.
