Electric Safety
Report a Hazardous Condition
Call any SREC office to report a hazardous condition such as a downed power line. Always stay far away from downed power lines and assume that all power lines are energized and dangerous.
Stay safe above and below.
Overhead Power Line Safety
Keep at least 10 feet away.
Did you know?
Electricity can jump to nearby objects! Never touch power lines, but don’t get too close either. Keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away in all directions.
Underground Power Line Safety
Call 811 before you dig.
Did you know?
Every dig requires a call. Whether you are planning to do it yourself or hiring a professional, smart digging means calling 811 before each job.
- Contact your electric cooperative immediately to report downed power lines outside your home.
- Treat all downed power lines as energized. Stay at least 10 feet away from fallen power lines.
- Never touch a person who is in contact with a downed power line. Call 911 immediately.
- Do not touch anything that is in contact with the power line.
- Keep equipment at least 10 feet away from power lines.
- Carry ladders and other equipment horizontally.
- Protect yourself and others from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines, like water, electricity and natural gas.
- Whether you are planting a tree, installing a mailbox or fence, or building a deck, call 811 first.
- Call 811 at least a few days before you start any digging project.
- Learn more at Call811.com.
- Visit the Mississippi 811 web portal at ms1call.org.
Want more information?
Portable Generator Safety Brochure

Hurricane Safety Brochure

Restore Electric Service Brochure

General Electric Safety Brochure

Electrical Water Safety Brochure

Enjoy Four Seasons of Safety
Stay safe during seasonal activities and celebrations throughout the year. Know how to warm up and decorate for the holidays with caution. In spring, enjoy the outdoors out of harm’s way. In summer, relax and play near the water with peace of mind. And in fall, take care of your DIY projects, yard work and winter preparations safely.

WINTER
Stay warm
and stay safe.
- Inspect heaters for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections before each use. If frayed, worn or damaged, do not use the heater.
- Never leave a space heater unattended. Turn it off when you’re leaving a room or going to sleep.
- Heaters must be kept at least three feet away from anything that can burn, including papers, clothing and rugs.
- Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas. Test them once a month.
- Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater.
- Place space heaters on level, flat surfaces. Never place heaters on cabinets, tables, furniture or carpet, which can overheat and start a fire.
- Inspect for dark, charred or frayed spots. Replace any worn or old heating pad or electric blanket.
- Never fold electric blankets when in use. Folded or tucked-in blankets could overheat and cause a fire.
- Do not allow anything, including other blankets or pets, on top of a heating pad or electric blanket when it is in use to avoid overheating.
- Heating appliances should never be left unattended or used while sleeping.
- Do not use electronics near water.
- Never sleep with electronics under your pillow.
- Do not run cords under carpets, rugs, furniture or out of windows.
- Do not overload outlets.
- Always turn off decorations when you’re sleeping or leaving your home.
- Inspect all decorations and discard any that are damaged or worn.
- Keep your natural Christmas tree hydrated by watering it daily.

SPRING
Delight in
longer days, safely.
- Fly kites in open fields, away from electrical wires.
- Do not use wire, metal or wet string on a kite. If your kite catches on a wire or on a high pole, don’t try to remove it. Call your local electric cooperative.
- Don’t fly a kite in wet or stormy weather.
- Do not play around power lines or climb trees near them.
- Go inside right away if you hear thunder or see lightning. Do not take shelter under trees.
- Ladders that come into contact with a power line, even those made of wood, can prove fatal.
- Keep all ladders at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. Carry them horizontally.
- Unplug outdoor tools and appliances when not in use.
- Inspect power tools and appliances for frayed cords, broken plugs, and cracked or broken housing. Repair or replace damaged items.
- Water and electricity do not mix. Avoid damp conditions, including wet grass, when using electricity.
- Look up! If you see a wire in the area where you want to work, call your electric cooperative.
- Don’t build a tree house in trees with power lines in or near them.
- Don’t prune a limb that is near or touching a wire. Tree limbs contain water and can conduct electricity. If possible, hire a professional.
- Although the service wire running from the transformer to your house is usually insulated, never consider it safe to work around. The insulation can be worn, creating a hazard.

SUMMER
Keep the
summer months carefree.
- Avoid contact with overhead power lines. Check clearance before raising or lowering your mast or spar.
- When determining overhead clearances, be sure to take the tide into consideration. Clearances may be adequate for your boat at low tide, but not at high tide.
- Make sure to keep all drying sails and sheet lines from blowing into power lines.
- Don’t haul, store or sail your boat unless you have at least 10 feet of clearance between the highest point of your boat and the lowest point of all power lines.
- When fishing onboard, make sure to check for overhead power lines before casting your line.
- As you boat, be aware of signs indicating underwater gas and electric utility lines. Do not anchor your boat near underwater cables or pipelines.
- Minimize electrocution from the onboard AC electrical system by ensuring the boat is properly wired by a professional marine electrician and is inspected periodically for damage or deterioration.
- All outdoor receptacles should be covered to keep them dry. This is especially important around pools, spas and other summer water activities.
- Make sure all electrical equipment used for swimming pools (even the cleaning equipment) is grounded.
- Electrical devices and cords should be at least 10 feet away from pools.
- When possible, use battery-operated electrical devices outside.
- Never handle electrical devices when you are wet — either from water activities or from perspiration.
- Make sure there are no power lines over a swimming pool.
- Do not swim during a thunderstorm.
- To avoid electric shock drowning, have an electrician inspect and upgrade your pool, spa or hot tub in accordance with applicable local codes and the National Electrical Code® (NEC).
- Contact a qualified, licensed electrician to perform any electrical work in your home, including the installation and services of air conditioning and other cooling equipment.
- Have electric-powered equipment inspected and maintained regularly for safety.
- Make sure your equipment has the label indicating it is listed by a recognized testing laboratory.

FALL
Be careful as
the days cool.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International strongly recommends hiring a qualified, licensed electrician to perform any electrical work in your home. However, if you do decide to do it-yourself, consider the following important safety tips.
- Make an effort to learn about your home electrical system so that you can safely navigate and maintain it.
- Never attempt a project that is beyond your skill level. Knowing when to call a professional may help prevent electrical fires, injuries and fatalities.
- Always turn off the power to the circuit that you plan to work on by switching off the circuit breaker in the main service panel.
- Be sure to unplug any lamp or appliance before working on it.
- Test the wires before you touch them to make sure that the power has been turned off.
- Never touch plumbing or gas pipes when performing a do it yourself electrical project.
- Use only weatherproof electrical devices for outside activities.
- Protect outdoor electrical devices from moisture.
- Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) with every power tool to protect against electric shocks.
- Do not use power tools with an extension cord that exceeds 100 feet in length.
- Never use power tools near live electrical wires or water pipes.
- Wear appropriate personal protective gear at all times.
- Check cold weather tools, such as leaf and snow blowers, along with their power cords, for unusual wear and tear. Repair or replace worn tools or parts right away.
- Unplug and safely store battery chargers that won’t be in use again until spring.
- Make sure electrical equipment that has been wet is inspected and reconditioned by a certified repair dealer.
- Keep dry leaves swept away from outdoor lighting, outlets and power cords.
Call 811 Before You Dig
One Call organizations are set up according to state laws. The laws basically state that all persons preparing to dig must call either Mississippi 811, Alabama 811 or utilize the online E-locate system two days prior to the beginning of any work. Underground facilities will be marked using the color code system and then work may proceed. Visit the respective websites to view the state laws.
Did You Know...
Improper installation of solar panels, or installing them without letting us know can endanger our linemen and your neighbors in the event of a major outage.
Take the Touchstone Energy Electrical Safety Quiz
Increase your electricity safety knowledge by taking our lineman-approved electrical safety quiz.
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