Skip to main content

Stay Safe: Electric

 

Look Up…Look Out! 

Though power lines are essential to distributing electricity to your home or office, they are not designed for human contact. It is extremely dangerous to touch a power line, whether it is overhead or has fallen on the ground. The following guidelines will help keep you safe.

  • Report any downed lines to Greenville Utilities immediately by calling our toll-free Emergency hotline at 1-855-767-2482. Do not touch a downed line or anyone in contact with the line. Always assume a downed line is live. 
     
  • Never make contact with overhead power lines while:
    • Trimming trees.
    • Using fruit-picking poles.
    • Working on a roof.
    • Installing or removing an antenna or satellite dish.
    • Using a long-handled pool skimmer.
    • Using and carrying metal ladders.
    • Moving a boat with a mast.
       
  • Do not remove anything caught in power lines -- not even an animal. Instead, call GUC's Emergency Hotline immediately at 1-855-767-2482.
     
  • Beware of a downed power line touching a vehicle. Stay clear of the vehicle and the power line. If a power line touches your vehicle while you are inside, remain calm and follow these directions:
    • If you can do so safely, stay inside the vehicle until emergency assistance arrives.
    • Warn others to stay away from the vehicle and have them call GUC.
    • If you must get out of the vehicle for safety reasons, jump clear. Do not touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time.

Find out more about the High Voltage Safety Act and working near overhead power lines.

NC 811 provides information you need about the location of underground utility lines that could save you time and keep you safe.

 

Call Now, Dig Later

If you are planning to dig on your property, call 811 at least three full working days in advance and NC 811 will assist you in finding out if there are underground lines you need to avoid. 

NC 811 operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

Your call sets this process in motion:

  1. Utilities with underground lines near the site are notified
  2. Utilities mark underground lines with flags or paint
  3. Color-coded flags or paint mark the area:
  • Red = Electric
  • White - Proposed excavation
  • Pink = Temporary survey marking
  • Green = Sewer
  • Blue = Water
  • Orange = Telephone, television, or other communication line
  • Yellow = Gas, oil, or steam

This one phone call could save you from disrupted service, expensive repairs or personal injury. For more information, visit NC811.org.

 

Stay Safe Around Your Electric Meter

It's important that GUC is able to access your meter for maintenance and during an emergency or outage.  Keep these four things in mind:

1. Don't plant anything within three feet of your meter.

2. Don't build anything within three feet of your meter, such as a deck.

3. Don't chain animals to your meter.

4. Don't build fences that prevent us from accessing your meter.

 

 

 

Stay Safe Around Your Transformer

We need to be able to access your transformer for maintenance, and to restore power if there's an outage. 

Remember these two important guides.

1. Don't plant anything within three feet of the sides or back of the transformer.

2. Don't plant anything within eight feet of the front of the transformer.