Electrical Safety

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Extension Cords

Extension cords are intended to be temporary and should not be used as permanent household wiring. Do not run cords under carpets or rugs and do not tack or nail cords to walls or floors.

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Downed Power Lines

Power lines can be deadly. Never touch downed power lines! Immediately call 911 if you see lines down, or AEL&P at 907.780.2222 or our after-hours number at 586-AELP.

Keep away from downed or sagging power lines. If possible to do so safely, keep people and pets away from downed or sagging lines.

Always keep a minimum of 30 feet away from any downed or sagging power line.

If your vehicle comes into contact with a downed line, STAY IN THE VEHICLE until utility personnel arrive. Do not attempt to exit vehicle unless it is absolutely necessary for survival.

If you must exit the vehicle, do NOT touch the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Stand on the edge of the door frame and jump with both feet away from the vehicle without touching any part of the vehicle. Continue to hop away with both feet in small jumps until at least 30 feet from the power line.

Check Electric Cords

Check cords for any fraying or cracking. Damaged cords should be replaced. Never overload electric outlets.

Appliances and Tools

You should always keep electric appliances and tools away from water. Never touch or unplug an appliance that has fallen into water! If this occurs, immediately turn the power off at the breaker before unplugging an appliance or removing it from the water.

Outlets

Never put anything other than an electrical plug into an outlet. Outlet covers or caps should be used to protect young children.

Maintenance and Repair

Your home’s electrical system should be maintained and keep in good condition. A licensed electrical contractor should be contacted if you have flickering lights, sparks, non-functioning outlets, or need wiring upgrades or repairs.

Watch Overhead

Always beware of overhead lines when using ladders, working on roofs, trimming trees, operating heavy machinery, or carrying long tools or loads. Toys such as kites, model airplanes, and metallic balloons should always be used away from power lines.

Keep ladders and equipment a minimum of 20 feet away from power lines.

Contractors and Service Responders

AEL&P offers training for contractors, police and fire departments, and customers who are interested in electrical awareness and preparedness. Contact our Lemon Creek Office Headquarters to find out more.

In Schools

We provide in school education to students to keep them safe around electricity. There are many misconceptions about electricity and how to be safe around electricity. In order to illustrate and educate about the dangers of electricity, AELP takes a miniature powerline display into schools to teach kids about electricity and how to be safe around electrical equipment and power lines. To learn more or to schedule an in school demonstration please give Lori Sowa a call at 907.759.5903

Outage Kit

Be prepared and know what you need in case of an outage. Place these items in a storage bin and ensure it’s easily accessible in the event of an emergency.

Equipment and Substations

Never enter or play around electrical equipment or substations. If an object or toy enters a substation or ends up on any of our electrical equipment never attempt to retrieve it yourself, call 907.780.2222 for assistance.

Space Heaters

According to the National Fire Protection Association space heaters are responsible for 32% of house fires.

Always place your space heater on flat, non-flammable surfaces.
Your space heater should have an auto shutoff function.
Space heaters should be plugged directly into an outlet and never use extensions cords.
Never leave space heaters unattended when turned on.

Call before you Dig

Locator Hotline: 907.586.1333. Each year customers and contractors pay thousands of dollars to repair power lines that are damaged by careless digging. Call the utility locator hotline before you dig. One call could save you money, prevent an outage or a serious accident.

If you choose to dig without a locate from each utility, you may be held liable for the cost of any repair, injury, or death that results from damage caused by digging into underground equipment.

Landscaping

Planting trees under power lines or near utility equipment can be dangerous and cause problems as they grow. Be aware of power lines and equipment while landscaping.

Flood Safety

How should I prepare for a flood with respect to electrical safety? Make sure that you know where your main breaker is so you can shut off power to your home if needed. In addition, all residents should be prepared for an outage, particularly if your home is near the flood zone.

Should I shut off my main electrical breaker? If flooding of your home is imminent or you are concerned about electrical safety, you can turn off power to your home by turning off your main breaker. In the event of flooding or flood damage, having the main breaker off Ensures that your home won’t be energized from the utility until you are ready to do so.

How does AELP prepare for the flooding? AELP is prepared to respond in all conditions, including flooding. AELP has on call personnel who will mobilize quickly if flooding is imminent and will coordinate with emergency services. During a flood, safety of the community is our number one goal. With that in mind, we also strive to keep service disruptions to a minimum, impacting the fewest customers possible.

Why do we cut power? AELP will proactively cut power to flood-affected areas in order to electrically isolate AELP equipment that could create a safety hazard or become damaged if submerged.

What areas of town are most likely to be impacted during a flood? The Mendenhall Campground area (including View Drive) is the first area to flood because it is low-lying and close to the river. AELP has cut power to this area when the flood stage is predicted to be 11 feet or higher. During a flooding event, AELP will closely monitor conditions and will cut power to other areas as needed. Depending on the severity of the flooding, AELP may need to cut power to large segments of the Mendenhall Valley. Residents are encouraged to be prepared for an outage and to follow real time outage updates on Facebook or on our website at aelp.com

Why do some areas stay powered even if flooded? In some areas the energized equipment is built above ground and not in danger of being submerged.

If my home isn’t flooded, will my power go out? Because of our system configuration, it is often necessary to cut power to a larger segment of homes and businesses than just those that are actually flooded, which is why all Valley residents should be prepared for an outage. For example, not all homes on Meader Way were flooded last year, but power was cut to XXX.

When will power be restored? AELP will restore power when flood waters have receded, and system equipment no longer poses a safety hazard. AELP will communicate outage and restoration updates on Facebook and on our website at aelp.com

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