Power Line Safety
Whether you are playing outdoors with your children or working on landscaping projects, keep a safe distance from power lines and other equipment Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative uses to get electricity to your home.
- Stay away from power lines, meters, transformers and electrical boxes.
- Don’t climb trees near power lines.
- Never fly kites, remote control airplanes or balloons near power lines.
- If you get something stuck in a power line, call Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative to get it.
- Keep a safe distance from overhead power lines when working with ladders or installing objects such as antennas.
A downed power line may still be an energized power line.
- Never touch or go near a downed power line.
- Don’t touch anything that may be touching a downed wire, such as a car.
- Keep children and pets away.
- Call Central Wisconsin Electric Cooperative at 1-800-377-2932 to report downed power lines.
If you encounter a vehicle accident involving a utility pole or power line:
- Call 911 immediately.
- Don’t touch any passenger who may be in contact with a power line.
- Don’t touch anything that is in contact with the vehicle.
- Don’t attempt to move power lines or utility poles.
- If passengers must exit the vehicle, jump clear of it without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Land with feet together and shuffle away.
- Don’t rely on rubber boots, raincoats, rubber gloves or wire cutters for protection.
This is Your License to Live
The “License to Live” campaign is aimed at making sure people know exactly what to do when your car comes into contact with a utility pole or wire, including:
• STAY IN YOUR vehicle and call 911
• ONLY get out of the vehicle if it is on fire
• IF you must get out, jump from the vehicle with both feet together, and shuffle your feet on the ground as you move away from the scene
• ALWAYS assume all wires and equipment are electrified