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APS reminds Arizonans to be safe around electricity Memorial Day Weekend
PHOENIX – Families across Arizona will take time over Memorial Day weekend to remember those who have sacrificed their lives while serving our country. For many, the weekend also signifies the start to summer. With the school year coming to a close and hotter weather beginning, it is important to remember general safety precautions.
APS encourages keeping the following safety tips in mind:
• Contact your electric company before you trim or cut trees near overhead power lines. Touching an overhead power line can lead to serious injury or even death from electric shock.
• Call 811 before you dig. Make sure you know the location of buried electrical lines in your yard.
• Avoid hanging outdoor lighting near water. String lights have become popular backyard décor, but the National Electric Code requires a minimum 10-foot vertical clearance over the water surface in a pool, and even at that height they may pose hazards when using long-handled aluminum pool-cleaning tools, pool toys or if the bulb glass breaks. Also, be mindful of where you place electric lighting as sprinklers and irrigation can spray water in all directions, and make sure all outdoor outlets are waterproof and covered.
• Use only weather-resistant heavy gauge extension cords marked for outdoor use. Inspect extension cords for frays and broken plugs. Different cords are rated for different tools, so make sure they are rated for the appliance’s power needs. Overloaded cords can lead to electric shock and serious injury.
• Be cautious around pools. When skimming your pool, make sure there are no power lines nearby. Protect wiring from getting wet, and know where all the electrical switches and circuit breakers for pool equipment and lights are located and how to switch them off in an emergency.
• Be aware of the surroundings above you before flying a drone, kite or other aerial toy and carry ladders, pruners and other long equipment on their side, not vertically, to avoid contact or arcing from an overhead line.
• Keep Mylar balloons indoors. Deflate and properly dispose of them in the trash. Released balloons can come in contact with overhead power lines creating outages and extensive damage.
APS serves about 2.7 million people in 11 of Arizona’s 15 counties, and is the Southwest’s foremost producer of clean safe and reliable electricity. Using a balanced energy mix that is nearly 50 percent carbon-free, APS has one of the country’s most substantial renewable energy portfolios, and owns and operates the Palo Verde Generating Station, the country’s top power producer and largest producer of carbon-free energy. The company is also a proven leader in introducing technology and services that offer customers choice and control over their energy consumption. With headquarters in Phoenix, APS is the principal subsidiary of Pinnacle West Capital Corp. (NYSE: PNW).
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