Safety is our top priority

Electricity does a tremendous amount of work for us. However, because it is such a powerful force, we must be careful with it. Each year people are injured or killed by electricity. The reason is almost always faulty appliances and tools, carelessness, or lack of knowledge about how electricity works.

Outdoor Electrical Safety

- Never touch or go near fallen wires, even if you think they are safe.
- Don't raise any tall objects without looking up.
- Call us before you trim any trees near power lines.
- Avoid planting trees under power lines.
- Never fly kites or model airplanes near power lines.
- If a kite, or any other object, is caught in a line or nearby tree, leave it alone.

Indoor Electrical Safety

- Remember that electricity and water don't mix.
- Keep appliances, especially hair dryers, away from bathtubs, puddles, sinks and wet hands.
- Never put metal objects in live parts of appliances or in outlets.
- If an appliance overheats, unplug it and have it checked.
- Use only electrical equipment that is approved by a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- Use extension cords sparingly. Too many appliances plugged into one cord causes overheating.
- Check electrical cords for worn spots or frayed wires. Don't try to mend them, replace them

Tree Trimming

Trees and/or limbs that fall or come into contact with power lines is one of the most common causes of power outages. Many outages are directly caused by trees that have either grown up into power lines, or by trees that have been planted too close to power lines.

Not only can they cause power outages, trees that come into contact with electrical lines also have the potential to become energized, therefore posing a dangerous safety hazard.

Downed Electrical Lines

Call CEMC to report downed electrical lines at (800)987-CEMC (2362). Don’t touch or attempt to move any downed lines.

Avoid the Big Green Box

Please stay away from pad-mounted transformers (the big green box). While safe, they are not meant for touching, climbing or playing. Pad-mounted transformers carry high voltages of electricity that serve many homes in our communities.

Generator Safety

While CEMC is committed to providing safe and reliable power, outages do happen.  While most outages are restored quickly, weather and other factors can affect how quickly your power may be restored.  Generators are commonly used during these times to power crucial items such as heating/cooling, and refrigeration. However, if improperly installed or operated, generators can be deadly to you, your neighbors and those working to restore your power.

Generator Transfer Switch Diagram | Appliance kW usage

Call Before you Dig

Buried utilities could exist just about anywhere you dig.  You can help prevent possible injury and damage to underground utilities by calling 811, or (800) 351-1111 at least three working days prior to excavating.