TEP Offers Spring Electrical Safety Tips
TUCSON, Ariz., Apr 30, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Spring's warm weather is a great time for yard work, swimming and many
other outdoor activities. At work or at play, it's important to keep
electrical safety in mind. Tucson Electric Power (TEP) offers these tips
to help you stay safe around electricity when you're outdoors.
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Look up and look out for overhead power lines. Be mindful of any
nearby lines before you climb a ladder or extend the handle of a
pool-cleaning tool.
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Keep materials, tools and all parts of your body at least 15 feet away
from any overhead power lines at all times. If you plan to get any
closer, state law requires you to make arrangements with TEP that will
allow your work to proceed safely. Keep this in mind when installing
or repairing an antenna or satellite dish or preparing your
evaporative cooler for summer use.
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Before you trim tree limbs and shrubs, watch out for power lines that
could be hidden by foliage. Contact TEP's Customer Care line at (520)
623-7711 if you have questions or concerns about tree limbs growing
into or around overhead power lines on your property.
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Customers who wish to clear tree limbs or other foliage away from an
electric service line must first call TEP's Customer Care line to ask
that their power be turned off for the duration of their work.
Customers are responsible for keeping foliage at least 15 feet away
from the service lines that connect their homes and businesses to
TEP's electrical distribution system. There is no cost for this
temporary suspension of electric service.
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Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers for frayed power cords,
broken plugs and weathered or damaged housings before every use. Don't
use damaged equipment until it has been repaired properly. Keep tools
unplugged and stored in dry areas when they are not in use. And always
use an insulated extension cord designed for outdoor use with the
correct power rating for that equipment.
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Always keep power cords and electrical equipment away from water, wet
grass or other wet areas. Keep this in mind when using
electric-powered mowers or other lawn equipment.
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Never fly kites or model airplanes near power lines. If a kite does
get tangled with overhead lines, don't try to get it down yourself, as
a kite string can conduct electricity. Instead, call TEP for
assistance. Don't fly your kite when a thunderstorm is brewing.
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Call before you dig. Whether you're a homeowner landscaping your yard
or a professional contractor digging utility trenches, remember to
call 811 or Arizona Blue Stake at 1-800-STAKE-IT (1-800-782-5348) at
least two working days before you dig. It's a free service, and it's
required by state law.
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Keep vegetation and permanent structures away from the large, green
ground-level boxes that house components of TEP's underground
electrical system. TEP workers may need to access the underground
lines and equipment near these boxes during power outages and for
routine maintenance.
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Treat all electric lines with caution and respect. Even low-voltage
electric lines and cords can be hazardous if damaged or improperly
handled. And if you EVER see a downed power line, call 911
immediately; don't get near it.
TEP, a subsidiary of UniSource Energy Corporation (NYSE: UNS), provides
safe, reliable power to more than 400,000 customers in southern Arizona.
For more information, visit tep.com. For more information about
UniSource Energy, visit uns.com.
SOURCE: Tucson Electric Power
Tucson Electric Power
News Media: Joseph Barrios, 520-884-3725
Copyright Business Wire 2010
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