Safety and Reliability

We are committed to electrical reliability and safety for our customers. Our crews are constantly working to improve the electrical system in your community, as well as working around the clock when power is disrupted to restore it quickly and safely.

Maintaining Our Electrical System

Our entire business is built around keeping the lights on. But we are also focused on making continuous improvements to our electrical system to reduce the likelihood of unplanned power outages.

• We maintain and catalog all utility assets to streamline our maintenance efforts when repairs are needed.
• We have increased tree trimming and systematic pole replacements to reduce the risk of damage and failures.
• When the power does go out, new automated switching technology helps our crews quickly locate the cause of outages, and our web-based outage map keep customers informed.
• We maintain 85,000 streetlights across our service area and continuously upgrade them to ensure your neighborhoods and through roads are safely lit.

Maintaining Safety During Construction

When we are out in the community working to improve our electrical equipment or adding new electric service, we take the following precautions to keep you safe.

• Crews assess the location of work to ensure the public and property owners understand the extent of the project.
• We assign designated workers to look for electrical dangers and prevent accidents. What might look like employees “just standing around” is actually an important job.
• Our crews mark worksites with signs, traffic cones, boundary tape and other devices to ensure people stay clear of these areas - especially next to electrical vaults (underground rooms that house electrical equipment).
• As our crews work, they look to reduce exposure to potential safety hazards and ask that you don’t approach a crew member while working.
• We do community outreach to keep the public informed and help mitigate project and construction-related issues and impacts.

What You Can Do to Stay Safe

Electrical equipment is potentially dangerous. Follow these electrical safety tips whenever you are near utility work or equipment.

• Stay far away from power lines and anything touching power lines.
• Stay away from electric facilities and equipment, including substations, utility poles and transformers.
• Don’t climb trees, fly kites or build treehouses near power lines.
• Never touch anyone being shocked. If you can do so safely, unplug the device or turn off the power. Then call 911 and begin CPR.
• In a power outage, never use generators inside the home, including a garage.
• Before starting any project, call (800) 424-5555 to locate underground electrical lines and other utilities.