Electricity powers our lives, but sometimes we forget about the potential danger of outdoor electrical hazards. In honor of Electrical Safety Month, I would like to share some tips to help you avoid power lines and stay safe outdoors.
Whether flying a kite, cleaning out the gutters or trimming trees, please remember to look up and watch out for overhead power lines.
Carry long or tall items such as ladders or scaffolding parallel to the ground. Before you raise them into the air, make sure they are clear of all power lines.
Maintain a distance of at least 10 feet when working below or adjacent to power lines.
Never touch a power line with any part of your body or any object.
Please remember to contact Delmarva Power immediately if you see a downed wire. You can call us at 1-800-898-8042 (New Castle, Cecil and Harford Counties) or 1-800-898-8045 (Kent and Sussex Counties, and the Eastern Shore). You can learn more about electrical safety in your home by visiting http://www.delmarva.com/home/education/safety/indoor/.
NEWARK, Del. – With the 2010 Atlantic Hurricane Season in full swing, Delmarva Power reminds customers to prepare for the possibility of tropical weather this week and the electric and gas service interruptions it can cause. The company is monitoring the progress of Hurricane Earl, which is predicted to move north, approaching the Mid-Atlantic Coast by Friday. As a normal precaution, Delmarva Power is preparing to restore service if necessary. Preparedness is a shared responsibility and the utility encourages customers to prepare as well. Here are a few important steps:
Keep Delmarva Power emergency numbers accessible to report outages or wires down. For customers reporting power outages in New Castle County, Del. and Cecil and Hartford counties, Md., call 800.898.8042. In Kent County, Sussex County and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, call 800.898.8045.
Make sure Delmarva Power has your current phone number registered in our automated Outage Management System so that we can identify your location and quickly locate the source of trouble. Customers can update phone numbers online at www.delmarva.com or by calling Customer Care at 800.375.7117.
Prepare an emergency survival kit. This would include a flashlight, battery-powered radio, fresh batteries, essential medication, nonperishable food and enough fresh water to last several days.
Develop a contingency plan, especially customers who in particular rely on electricity to power life-support equipment in their homes, such as respirators or kidney dialysis machines. Decide what to do in the event of an extended power outage, such as seeking temporary shelter with family or friends. As a reminder, Delmarva Power offers the Emergency Medical Equipment Notification Program. This program provides advance notice of scheduled outages and severe weather alerts to registered special needs customers. For details, call Customer Care at 800.375.7117.
Delmarva Power employees regularly prepare for the possibility of power outages and frequently participate in emergency drills. The company maintains supplies of essential equipment, such as poles, wires and transformers, and stays in contact with utilities throughout the region to quickly arrange mutual assistance in case of a natural disaster.
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Delmarva Power, a public utility owned by Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides safe and reliable energy to nearly 498,000 electric delivery customers in Delaware and Maryland and over 123,000 natural gas delivery customers in northern Delaware.
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