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  3. Staying Safe at Home

Safety at Home

Home Safe Home

Our homes are where we should feel safe. Before taking on an outdoor project at home, remember that all electrical work should comply with electrical codes. Hiring a professional can save time and ultimately money. If you are doing work yourself, take these precautions to protect your family.

How to Avoid Underground Lines

Call Before You Dig

Let’s Know What’s Below Before We Go
Calling 811 at least 48 hours before digging helps to avoid serious injury and expensive penalties.
Our expert will come to your home and mark the location of any utility lines.
Please remember: SWEPCO marks only lines owned by the company. SWEPCO customers own the underground electric services on their property. Customers should contact a licensed electrical contractor to locate these customer-owned lines prior to digging.
If 811 does not work in your area please call:

Tree Trimming and Planting Safety

Plant Ahead For Future Success

When planting trees in our yards, think about whether the trees will interfere with power lines as they grow. We don’t want to have problems in the future. Be sure to select low-growing trees or shrubs that will not touch the overhead lines when they grow.

If you’re planting near a transformer, keep a distance of 10 feet from any side with an opening and 3 feet from other sides. Our crews need space to safely open the transformer when working on underground power lines.

Stay Free of the Tree

Trimming tree limbs near our power lines is dangerous work. Cutting back trees near power lines along public streets and roads and some private properties is our responsibility. If you see trees growing close to our power lines, call 1.888.216.3523.

You have the responsibility to trim back trees that grow close to the wire that runs from our pole to your house. Please contact us at least two business days in advance. We’ll disconnect this service line for your safety.

Remember to NOT use a metal ladder and to keep your wood or fiberglass ladder at least 10 feet away from power lines.

Tree trimming reliability

Additional Safety Tips

We want you to be safe throughout your house. So whether you’re working with lights, power tools, generators or space heaters, here are some great ways to protect you and your family.

Safety tips for installing and using lights.

  • Keep flammable materials away from a hot light bulb. Remember, a 100-watt bulb can get up to 300°F.
  • Install only UL-approved lights.
  • Use power strips that have several outlets and a built-in circuit breaker.
  • Remind children to never touch hot lights or plugs, especially with wet hands.
  • Be sure to use the correct lights for the job. So when we’re setting up holiday lights inside, use only indoor lights.
  • If a strand of holiday lights or an extension cord is frayed, discard it.
  • Unplug indoor holiday lights before going to bed each night.

Safety tips when using power tools, cords and plugs.

  • Use power tools only on circuits that can support their electrical requirements.
  • Compare the amp rating on an extension cord with that of the tool to make sure it can handle the tool.
  • Unplug tools when we’re not using them.
  • Buy UL-approved cords.
  • Keep cords and electrical objects away from heat and water.
  • Use a heavy-duty, grounded three-wire cord for power tools.

Portable Generator Fact Sheet

Safety tips when using a generator.

  • Connect all appliances directly to the generator.
  • Don’t connect the generator's electrical output to any home or building electrical circuits.
  • Never plug a generator into a wall outlet.
  • Avoid contact with bare wires and terminals.
  • Use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) in any damp or highly conductive area.
  • If you have a transfer switch (permanent connection) installed for a portable generator, contact a licensed electrician.
  • Permanently-installed generators should always be installed by a licensed electrician.
  • When purchasing a gas-powered generator, also buy a battery-operated carbon-monoxide alarm.
  • Don’t use gas-powered generators in enclosed or partially enclosed spaces, like inside a garage or a home.
  • Keep gas-powered generators away from open windows, including neighbors' windows, so deadly exhaust does not enter anyone's home.

Safety tips when using space heaters.

  • Keep flammable items like curtains away from the heater.
  • Only use heaters that are UL approved.
  • Don’t plug the heater into an outlet that is overloaded with other appliances.
  • Turn off the heater when it’s not in use or when we’re not home.

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