There are some special precautions you should take when working or playing outdoors where electricity is present.

Overhead power lines, for example, always should be considered energized and un-insulated … which means you should exercise special care to avoid touching them … ever! This includes keeping ladders, antennas and poles away from power lines. Please remember…

• Always call a professional to trim trees near power lines.
• Don’t let boat antennas, sail masts or fishing poles come in contact with overhead power lines.
• Never allow pool cleaning equipment to touch power lines near the pool area.
• If you have a swimming pool, make sure that overhead wiring does not pass over the pool and is safely away from the pool area.
• When boating, launch your boat before raising the sail. Always look up for power lines around boat landings and lake crossings.
• Be careful with ladders, rakes and other items around power lines.
• If a power line falls during severe weather, stay away from it! Report the downed line to Black River immediately!
• Don’t use nails or heavy staples to attach signs or notices to power poles — they can be a nightmare for line workers. Nails and staples can interfere with special climbing hooks used by line workers to climb poles and can also increase the risk of electrocution. State law prohibits attaching anything to utility poles.

Remember; do not begin digging without calling 811 and Black River Electric Cooperative at least three (3) days in advance. The underground lines will be located so you can dig safely.

Electrical Safety

Trees and Shrubs

Trees and overhead power lines just don’t mix. Lightning, high winds, ice, heavy rains or even extremely dry weather can send a tree to the ground and its limbs into a power line. The result is a power outage. Crews have to be dispatched, electrical equipment has to be replaced and members are without power until the work can be safely completed.

Black River Electric has an aggressive tree trimming program in place to help reduce the potential for outages related to trees and tree limbs, but keeping up with tree growth is a challenge. If you’re considering planting trees near our overhead equipment, we encourage you to learn all you can about choosing the right tree for the right place.