Power Lines
All overhead and underground power lines are live. These lines carry high voltage electrical charge and most are not insulated. That's why we put them up so high or bury them.Stay 10 feet away
All outdoor tasks, including pruning, trimming, or felling a tree, cleaning a pool, moving an antenna, or working on a roof, require you to be aware of electrical safety.
If you have any questions, or simply want to learn more, call us at 1-888-TEL-GMPC (1-888-835-4672.) Staff at Green Mountain Power are available to consult with and assist you, free of charge.
1 (888) DIG SAFE
Digging safely is the law. Before you excavate or dig in or near utility rights-of-way, you must call Dig Safe. The toll-free number is 1 (888) DIG-SAFE. Within two working days, a Dig Safe representative will come to your site and clearly mark the electrical cables.
Electrical Fires
Do not throw water on an electrical fire. Purchase an extinguisher for class A, B, and C fires and mount it within easy reach. Dry chemical, halon, or CO2 extinguishers are all appropriate for electrical fires.
If an appliance does catch fire, follow these five steps:
Home Generators
If you have purchased a generator for your home or business, you should have a qualified electrician install it for the following reasons:
Keep Kids Clear
Take the time to help your children understand how to play safely outside. They need to know that overhead power lines are not insulated. Touching a line or anything that comes into contact with a line can kill them.
Even strings from kites, model airplanes, and balloons can conduct electricity. Teach your children to fly these objects in open areas far away from overhead lines.
Never allow them to climb trees near power lines.
Finally, teach your children how to identify electrical lines, substations, and pad-mounted transformers. And to stay clear of them.
Give Trees Room to Grow
Trees can and do conduct electricity. Some simple rules of thumb will keep you safe and give the trees you plant the room they need to grow.
All overhead and underground power lines are live. These lines carry high voltage electrical charge and most are not insulated. That's why we put them up so high or bury them.
All outdoor tasks, including pruning, trimming, or felling a tree, cleaning a pool, moving an antenna, or working on a roof, require you to be aware of electrical safety.
- Keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet away from overhead lines. Always work with a spotter. When you are on a ladder or on a roof, it is difficult to judge your distance from power lines.
- Choose double-insulated and properly grounded tools when working outside or in wet areas.
- Make sure that all outdoor electrical outlets have weatherproof covers and ground fault circuit interrupters.
If you have any questions, or simply want to learn more, call us at 1-888-TEL-GMPC (1-888-835-4672.) Staff at Green Mountain Power are available to consult with and assist you, free of charge.
1 (888) DIG SAFE
Digging safely is the law. Before you excavate or dig in or near utility rights-of-way, you must call Dig Safe. The toll-free number is 1 (888) DIG-SAFE. Within two working days, a Dig Safe representative will come to your site and clearly mark the electrical cables.
Electrical Fires
Do not throw water on an electrical fire. Purchase an extinguisher for class A, B, and C fires and mount it within easy reach. Dry chemical, halon, or CO2 extinguishers are all appropriate for electrical fires.
If an appliance does catch fire, follow these five steps:
- Unplug the appliance and/or turn power off at the circuit breaker.
- Throw baking soda on the fire or use your extinguisher.
- Get everyone out of the house quickly.
- Call your local fire department.
- If you or anyone else suffers a burn, do not cool it. Call 911.
Home Generators
If you have purchased a generator for your home or business, you should have a qualified electrician install it for the following reasons:
- Generators must be vented properly. If not, they can release poisonous gas into your home or office.
- Generators must be isolated from electrical lines via a transfer switch. If they are not, turning the generator on may send electricity back through the lines. This endangers line workers, who assume certain lines do not carry electricity.
Keep Kids Clear
Take the time to help your children understand how to play safely outside. They need to know that overhead power lines are not insulated. Touching a line or anything that comes into contact with a line can kill them.
Even strings from kites, model airplanes, and balloons can conduct electricity. Teach your children to fly these objects in open areas far away from overhead lines.
Never allow them to climb trees near power lines.
Finally, teach your children how to identify electrical lines, substations, and pad-mounted transformers. And to stay clear of them.
Give Trees Room to Grow
Trees can and do conduct electricity. Some simple rules of thumb will keep you safe and give the trees you plant the room they need to grow.
- High-voltage transmission lines carry a 50-foot right-of-way.
- Tall trees (such as maple, oak, and spruce) need a 50-foot clearance from distribution lines that run along your street.
- Medium trees (those that will grow to a height of 40 feet) need a 20-foot clearance from distribution lines.
- Small trees (such as dogwood, crabapple, or others that will grow to a height of 25 feet), need a 20-foot clearance from distribution lines.
- Plant shrubs and erect structures at least 12 feet from the front and 3 feet from all sides of pad-mounted transformers. (Pad-mounted transformers are green boxes on the ground in areas with underground electrical service.) This clearance enables us to work safely at these sites.
