Beautify your yard, not utility equipment 

As you beautify your yard this spring and summer, Sumter EMC and Safe Electricity remind you of these safety tips:

• Do not plant shrubs and trees close to green box transformers or other utility equipment. Limiting or restricting access to the box in your yard by us could delay restoration work during an outage and create a serious safety hazard. We need at least 10 feet of clearance in front of the transformer (the side that is padlocked), as well as four feet of clearance on the other three sides.
• Contact us with questions about landscaping around or installing fencing near a padmount transformer (or any other changes) to learn what is allowable.
• Contact us if the transformer becomes unlocked or if it or any other type of utility equipment appears to be damaged.
• Call 811 prior to digging around a transformer and respect the clearance requirements noted above. If you dig near a transformer (even if it is beyond the clearance requirements), you could inadvertently hit a live underground cable. Always call 811 prior to any digging.
• Keep a clear path to the transformer. Even though the transformer seems like it is in “your yard,” it is technically on an easement, and our workers need clear access to it to maintain equipment and keep power running smoothly.

• Contact us with any questions or concerns about the safety of padmount transformers. Always teach children that they should not sit on, open, or play around the green boxes.

  To request a speaker on this or a variety of other topics, contact us at communityevents@sumteremc.com For more about electrical safety, visit safeelectricity.org.

Protect Your Linemen

Don't Attach Signs or Other Objects to Power Poles!

Sumter EMC's linemen are well trained and very dedicated men who take tremendous pride in serving you. You can help protect your linemen by not turning our utility poles into obstacle courses with tacks, nails and staples from posted signs, posters, notices or mounted recreational equipment. Tacks, nails and staples driven into Sumter EMC's utility poles can puncture the linemen's rubber safety gloves and leave them vulnerable to electrocution. Linemen whose climbing hooks hit a nail instead of sinking securely into wood may fall from the pole and sustain serious injuries. Remember, anytime a lineman must unfasten his safety harness in order to climb above an obstacle on a utility pole, he's working without a net! Also, when linemen have to remove objects from poles in order to climb them during an outage, it takes much longer to restore your power.

Sumter EMC's linemen climb the poles in all weather conditions and at all hours of the day or night to maintain and repair the equipment that brings you safe, reliable electric power. These dedicated men face enough danger in their efforts to keep your electric power on. Please do your part to help them eliminate additional hazards by not posting signs, posters and notices or mounting recreational equipment on our utility poles.

Outdoor Safety

Tips to avoid injury when enjoying the great outdoors

• Never touch fallen power lines. They may be energized or become energized at any time.
• Be sure all outdoor fixtures and light bulbs are waterproof and suitable for exterior use. 
• Outdoor wiring should be on a separate circuit, properly grounded and protected against moisture.
• Always wear shoes when using any electrical appliance outdoors. But remember, rubber-soled shoes have materials in them that can conduct electricity. They may not protect you from electrical shock.
• Never put up TV or other antennas where they can contact or fall across electrical lines. Be extra cautious if you are installing the antenna yourself. If you lose control of an antenna and it begins to fall, let it go and jump clear.

Extension Cord Safety

Do's and Don'ts of Extension Cords

• Use an extension cord only as a temporary connection.
• When using extension cords outdoors, make sure they are labeled for outdoor use.
• Install GFCI receptacles where cords will be used outdoors.
• Use a heavy-duty, grounded, three-pronged cord when working with power tools.
• Replace extension cords with worn or cracked insulation.
• Don't run extension cords across foot traffic areas or near water.
• Don't place furniture or other heavy objects on top of extension cords.
• Don't overload extension cords - be particularly careful about plugging multiple appliances into a single extension cord.

Is Your Wiring Safe?

Know if your home's electrical system is properly wired.

How do you know if your home's electrical system is properly wired or in need of repairs or upgrades? Here are five key indicators to remember:

• Whenever you turn on an appliance, such as a dishwasher, clothes washer or dryer, the lights in your home dim.
• You frequently have problems with fuses blowing or circuit breakers tripping off.
• Appliances that should heat up, such as toasters and irons, don't get as hot as they should or take longer to heat up.
• Your television picture shrinks when other lights or appliances come on.
• Lights brighten in part of the house when other lights or appliances come on.