May is National Electrical Safety Month

May is National Electrical Safety Month and Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) is reminding customers that with warmer weather and vacations come more outdoor activities and potential distractions.   

CL&P offers these helpful tips to make this time of year safe and enjoyable: 

• Always stay away from downed power lines and assume any fallen wires are live and extremely dangerous.  Don’t touch anything that may be in contact with downed wires.  Call 911 immediately to report downed wires.
• Underground wires are a hidden danger.  Never dig around a home or business without checking for underground wires or cables.  Contact Call Before You Dig (CBYD) at 811 or use the Call Before You Dig Web site (www.cbyd.com).  Connecticut law requires you to call at least two full working days, excluding weekends and holidays, before digging.

• When working outdoors, position ladders away from power lines; keep this in mind when painting or cleaning gutters.  Even a wooden ladder can conduct electricity.  Maintain a minimum 10 feet of clearance from overhead power lines.

• Before using any electrical tool, be sure to inspect it for frayed power cords, broken plugs and cracked or broken sockets.  When using an electric appliance outdoors, be sure it is plugged into an outlet that has a weatherproof cover and a ground fault circuit interrupter.  If a problem occurs in the equipment, the interrupter will instantly cut the power, preventing a serious electric shock. Never use an electric appliance near a pool or other wet surfaces.  

• Be sure all electrical equipment for your swimming pool is grounded properly.  If you're installing a pool, have it inspected by your town's electrical inspector when the job is completed. A ground fault circuit interrupter should be installed on your pool's electrical equipment.  

• Don’t let anyone climb utility poles, towers, pad-mounted transformers or trees near power lines.  If your kite should get snagged in power lines or in a tree in which lines might be concealed, don't try to free it yourself.  If your pet gets stranded on a pole or if your child’s ball or toy goes into a electric substation, don't try to get them yourself.  CL&P customers should call (800) 286-2000 or (860) 947-2000 in the Hartford and Meriden calling areas.
• Watch for power lines when sailing or bringing your boat ashore.  Lower the mast when pulling the boat on a trailer to avoid contact with power lines along the road.

• If you buy a generator, make sure it is properly installed by a licensed electrician and it includes a transfer switch.  Keep in mind that you may also need a town permit or an official inspection.