Electrical Safety Guidelines

Electricity has become an integral part of our life. Whether at home, work or school, we rely on electricity to provide us with comfort and convenience throughout the day and night. Delmarva Power is committed to providing our customers safe, reliable power and to promoting awareness of the importance of acting responsibly and safely around electricity.

That's why Delmarva Power and the National Electrical Safety Foundation offer these safety tips:

Outdoor Electrical Safety

• Whether you are a contractor, excavator or homeowner, call the appropriate underground utility locator service before you begin landscaping a yard, building a deck or addition or starting a construction project. These free locator services mark the locations of underground utility lines, including natural gas, electric, telephone, etc. If you scrape or puncture one of these lines, you or someone you work with could be seriously injured.
  
  Call before you dig!
       In Delaware call: 1-800-282-8555
       In Maryland's Cecil and Harford Counties call:1-800-257-7777
       On Maryland's Eastern Shore call: 1-800-441-8355
       In Virginia call: 1-800-257-7777
  
• Teach children to stay away from such electric facilities as substations, transmission towers and transformers.
  
  
• When carrying long or tall items, such as ladders, tree saws and pool cleaning equipment, hold them parallel to the ground. Before you raise them into the air, look up to be sure they're clear of any power lines.
  
  
• Remember that electricity can move through conductive materials, i.e., water, metal, wood, aluminum, string and plastics.
  
  
• Stay away from overhead lines. Power lines are covered with a protective coating only for protection against damage from adverse weather conditions - if you touch a power line, you could be seriously injured or killed.
  
  
• Call Delmarva Power if kites or kite strings get caught in power lines. Do not attempt to remove them, as they conduct electricity.
  
  
• In Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and other states, the law requires you to call the owner of overhead power lines before working near them. In many locations on the Delmarva Peninsula Delmarva Power is the owner. Call 1-800-375-7117 if you plan to work on your home (for example, remodeling, painting or cleaning the gutters) and overhead power lines are attached to your house. We'll work with you to ensure your safety!
  

Electrical Safety Inside Your Home or Business

• Put childproof covers on all outlets that children or pets can reach.
  
  
• Any outlets located outdoors, or in moisture-containing areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, basement or garage, should have ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to lessen the possibility of shock or circuit overload. Test GFCIs on a regular basis.
  
  
• Keep electrical appliances away from wet areas and bathtubs, sinks and hottubs. Unplug appliances if they are not in use.
  
  
• Don't remove the grounding prong of a three-pronged plug; use an appropriate adapter for a two-prong outlet.
  
  
• Check extension cords for wear and tear and replace any that are cut or frayed. Use extension cords that are rated for the type of work you will be doing. (You can rub extension cords with a bar soap to prevent pets from chewing on them.)
• Keep electrical cords away from sharp objects, and never run them under carpets or around furniture legs.
  
  
• When replacing blown fuses, use only those rated for your circuit's capacity.
  
  

Home and Business Electrical System Safety

Protect yourself, your family and your employees by having your home or business electrical system inspected by a qualified electrician or licensed electrical inspector every few years. Also, if you notice one or more of the symptoms listed below, you should immediately have your home's electrical system inspected.

Warning Signs

• Power Interruptions: Fuses frequently need replacement, or circuit breakers frequently need to be reset.
  
  
• Overrated Panel: Your electrical panel/circuit breaker box contains fuses or circuit breakers rated at higher currents than the capacity of their branch circuits.
  
  
• Dim or Flickering Lights: Lights dim or flicker; the size of your television picture often shrinks.
  
  
• Unusual Sounds or Smells: You hear sizzling or buzzing noises, or smell burning from the electrical system.
  
  
• Overheating: Parts of your electrical system, such as switch plates, wall outlet covers, cords and plugs may be warm or hot, or you notice that they are discolored from heat.

For additional electrical safety information, always read "Energy News You Can Use," Delmarva Power's monthly customer newsletter.

Additional Information

Click below to learn more about:
Downed Power Lines
Responding to Storms and Natural Disasters (a downloadable PDF brochure)
Using Your Generator Safely (a downloadable PDF brochure)
Working Safely Near Utilities - Delaware, Maryland, Virginia (a downloadable PDF brochure)

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