PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As part of National Safety Month and the company’s ongoing efforts to ensure safety around electric and natural gas facilities, PECO reminds contractors and DIYers to be aware of their surroundings when planning projects near electric or natural gas equipment.
Contacting an overhead or underground electric line or underground natural gas line can cause serious injury, damage and service interruptions. It is essential for anyone who is working near this equipment to take the necessary precautions before beginning their work.
Follow these tips:
- Before digging for any project, call 811 to arrange for any utility lines to be marked.
- Contact PECO at 1-800-454-4100 if you are planning any work or activity that may bring yourself, your equipment and anything you carry within 10 feet of a power line.
- Keep ladders and other tools at least 10 feet from overhead power lines.
- Do not climb or trim trees near power lines.
- Keep electric tools and appliances away from wet surfaces, including pools and patios.
- Never approach a downed power line. Always assume a power line is energized and extremely dangerous.
- If you encounter a downed power line, immediately call PECO at 1-800-841-4141.
PECO crews also work year-round to ensure safe and reliable service for customers. Much of this work is completed in area roadways, where lane restrictions provide a temporary work zone for employees. To ensure safety, it’s important to reduce speeds and be aware when driving through active work zones.
“Safety is first and foremost at PECO,” said Mike Innocenzo, senior vice president and COO. “The safety of our customers, our employees and the communities we serve is our top priority and we work hard to keep the public informed about ways to stay safe around our equipment.”
As part of this effort, PECO has a public safety advertising campaign to educate those who work around aerial and underground power lines, hosts numerous safety education events, and provides information to customers and contractors each year in bill inserts and informational mailings.
As part of the Exelon family of companies, PECO joins its sister utilities in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., and Illinois in promoting National Safety Month. For more safety information, visit peco.com/safety.
Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). The company’s 2,400 dedicated employees provide advanced, innovative energy solutions to 1.6 million electric and more than 511,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania. In 2015 PECO delivered 86.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 38 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. The company also has an estimated annual economic impact of $4.5 billion in Pennsylvania, supporting more than 9,600 local jobs and producing $760 million in labor income. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations. For more information visit PECO.com, and connect with the company on Facebook and Twitter.
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