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OUTAGES: 1.855.999.9492     CONTACT: 406.222.3100

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Electrical Safety

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  1. Safety
  2. Electrical Safety

Power Line Safety

Accidentally contacting a power line can be dangerous and in some cases, even deadly.  Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative wants to help our members stay safe around power lines.

Keep a safe distance

Whether you are playing outdoors with your children or working on landscaping projects, keep a safe distance from power lines and other equipment your co-op uses to get electricity to your home.

Always remember to:

  • Stay away from power lines, meters, transformers and electrical boxes.
  • Don't climb trees near power lines
  • Never fly kites, remote controlled airplanes, drones, or balloons around power lines
  • If you get something stuck in a power line, call Park Electric to remove it.
  • Keep a safe distance from overhead power lines when working with ladders or installing objects such as antennas.
  • Never touch of 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 from all downed lines and possible hazards.

Power Line Hazards and Cars

If a power line falls on a car, you should stay inside the vehicle. This is the safest place to stay. Warn people not to touch the car of come any closer to the accident. Call or ask someone to call 911 right away.

The only circumstance in which you should consider leaving a car that is in contact with a downed power line is if the vehicle catches on fire. Open the door. Do not step out of the car, you may receive a shock. Instead, jump free of the car so that your body clears the vehicle before touching the ground. Once you clear the car, shuffle at least 50 feet away with both feet on the ground.

As in all power related emergencies, call for help immediately by dialing 911.

Do not try to help someone else from the car while you are standing on the ground.


Electrical Safety and Generators

Preventing electrocutions associated with portable generators plugged into household circuits

When power lines are down, residents can restore energy to their homes or other structures by using another power source such as a portable generator. If water has been present anywhere near electrical circuits and electrical equipment, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. Do not turn the power back on until electrical equipment has been inspected by a qualified electrician.

If it is necessary to use a portable generator, manufacture recommendations and specifications must be strictly followed. If there are any questions regarding the operation or installation of the portable generator, a qualified electrician should be immediately contacted to assist in installation and start-up activities. The generator should always be positioned outside the structure.

When using gasoline- and diesel-powered portable generators to supply power to a building, switch the main breaker or fuse on the service panel to the "off" position prior to starting the generator. This will prevent power lines from being inadvertently energized by backfeed electrical energy from the generators and help protect utility line workers or other repair workers or people in neighboring buildings from possible electrocution. If the generator is plugged into a household circuit without turning the main breaker to the "off" position or removing the main fuse, the electrical current could reverse, go back through the circuit to the outside power grid, and energize power lines or electrical systems in other buildings to at or near their original voltage without the knowledge of utility or other workers.

Effects of Backfeed

The problem of backfeed in electrical energy is a potential risk for electrical energy workers. Electrocutions are the fifth leading cause of all reported occupational deaths. Following the safety guidelines above can reduce the risk.

Other Generator Hazards

Generator use is also a major cause of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Generators should only be used in well ventilated areas.

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Contact Info

Park Electric Cooperative, Inc.
5706 US Hwy 89 S
Livingston, MT 59047

Service: 406.222.7778
Outages: 1.855.999.9492
Office: 406.222.3100

Email: info@parkelectric.coop

About Us

Our Mission is to bring value to our member-owners and communities by providing reliable electricity and superior customer service at fair and reasonable prices.

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©2023 Park Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • Member Service
    • Billing Questions
    • Capital Credits
    • Contact Us
    • Delinquency and Disconnection for Non-Pay
    • Forms and Applications
    • Gift of Energy
    • Membership
    • Outage Info
    • Payment Options
    • Rates
      • Outdoor Light Rate
      • Residential Rates
      • Seasonal Power Service - Pumps
      • Senior Income Eligible Discount
      • Three Phase, Commercial and Industrial
    • USBP Grant and Available Resources
  • Energy Programs
    • Energy Star Rebates
    • Green Power
    • Heat Rate Program
    • Outdoor Lighting
    • Renewable Energy Interconnection
      • Direct Purchase
      • Net-Metering
  • Energy Efficiency
    • Appliances and Lighting
    • Building Materials
    • Heating and Cooling
    • Smart Water Use
    • Smart Home
    • Touchstone Energy Savings
  • Electrical Projects
    • Construction Aid
    • Contracts and Easements
    • Permits
  • Safety
    • Call Before You Dig
    • Electrical Safety
    • Electrical Safety Checklist
    • Safety Program
    • Safety Quiz
    • Storm Center
  • Your Cooperative
    • About Touchstone Energy
    • Annual Meeting
    • Board of Trustees
    • Bylaws
    • Community News
      • Cooperative Newsletter
      • Educational Solar Array
      • Jobs at Park Electric
      • Today's Member Program
    • Contact Us
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Education
      • Scholarship and Apps
      • Youth Tour to Washington DC
    • Energy Portfolio
    • History of Rural Electric Cooperatives
    • News
    • Related Sites
    • Service Territory
  • Our Location & Hours