Important Safety Information

Wiregrass Electric is concerned about your safety, the safety of your family and the safety of our employees. Use the following safety tips to learn about electrical and storm safety and teach your family safety habits around the house and yard.

Hurricane Preparedness

History teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster. Visit the Hurricane Preparedness Web site to find how to protect yourself from flooding and wind during a severe storm. Hurricane Preparedness Week Information

NOAA predicts near normal or above normal hurricane activity for the 2008 season. Find out more information at: National Hurricane Center

In the event of any emergency, it is important to have a family disaster plan. Click here for a check list for your family's preparations: Have a Family Disaster Plan

Portable electric generators offer great benefits when outages affect your home; however, generators also must be connected and operated properly or they can be hazardous to the public and the line crews working to restore power. Get information on Generator Safety here.

View video on Wiregrass Electric's Emergency Preparedness.

Children and Electrical Safety

You wouldn’t let your children swim during a lightning storm, would you? No, of course not, but children’s natural curiosity can lead them into serious electrical accidents.

Here are some tips you can teach your children to help keep them safe:

• Never put fingers or objects into an electrical outlet, toaster, or any other appliance, even if it’s off.
• Don’t fly kites near power lines; kite strings that contact power lines can cause shock or fire.
• Don’t climb trees near power lines and never build tree houses near power lines.
• “Danger High Voltage” signs mean “Keep Out.”
• Never go near electrical substations.
• Don’t play around pad-mounted transformers.
• Keep electrical appliances away from swimming pools, bathtubs, and sinks.

Digging Safely

If you’re planning any digging projects around your home, be sure to pick up the phone before the shovel. Knowing where utility lines are buried can protect you from physical harm and your entire neighborhood from a disruption in their utilities.

Call Wiregrass Electric's Member Care Department at to request the underground power line locator service to identify if there are active utility lines hiding beneath the surface where you plan to dig. Allow 48 hours for the lines to be located. Call (800) 239-4602, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tips for the Home

Here are some tips to use around the home to help prevent electrical accidents. 

• Throw away frayed and damaged cords and extension cords.
• Extension cords should only be used temporarily.
• Turn appliances off before unplugging them and pull the plug, not the cord, when unplugging.
• Don’t touch appliances or switches with wet hands.
• Cover electrical outlets to stop children from poking things into them.
• Keep appliances out of the reach of children.
• Make sure outdoor appliances cannot come into contact with pools or puddles of water.
• Always look up before moving ladders and other tall items around your yard or home. A ladder or antenna in contact with a power line can cause a serious accident.
• Never tamper with your electric meter, as it is illegal and you could risk shock, explosion or fire.
• Never use water to douse an electrical fire, use the appropriate type of fire extinguisher. Never tamper with your electric meter, as it is illegal and you could risk shock, explosion, or fire.

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