That “big green box” in your yard needs space

Transformers change voltage from higher levels to voltages people use in their homes for their electronics, appliances and lighting.

While overhead power lines are mounted on utility poles and substations are protected by security fences, pad-mounted equipment is at ground level.

Clarence Greene, Safety and Loss Prevention director with Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, says, “If you see kids playing near pad-mounted transformers, ask them to move elsewhere, away from the electrical equipment.”

In many newer subdivisions and residential developments, overhead lines are no longer installed above ground. While consumers seldom see technicians working on the underground equipment, they are regularly inspected by co-op crews.

“It’s also important that landscaping and other barriers be kept clear of co-op equipment,” says Greene. “Co-op technicians need at least 10 feet of clearance at the opening side of a pad-mounted transformer. Approximately 4 feet of open space is preferable at the rear and on the sides of the metal housing.”

It’s important to check with your local electric co-op before planting shrubs or trees, setting fence posts, installing sprinkler systems and digging where it might damage underground lines.

When a storm has passed, learn the safety precautions to take once it’s gone.

After a storm, many think the danger left with the high winds, heavy rain and lightning strikes; but sometimes danger can come during the storm recovery period. Keeping your distance from downed power lines, and follow these safety tips for cleaning up after a storm:

Wear proper safety material: As you are cleaning up, make sure you are wearing proper protection to prevent injury. Work gloves, safety glasses, heavy-duty work shirt with long sleeves, work pants and steel-toe work boots are a good idea if you are working on clearing large amounts of broken, splintered or sharp debris.

Stay away from power lines: Always assume a downed power line is live. Downed power lines pose a particularly dangerous threat in areas where there are lots of people trying to clear fallen trees and branches from roads and lawns. Let the professionals handle this job. It’s not worth the risk. If you see a downed power line that is sparking or on fire, call your local power company immediately.

Use flashlights, not candles: When checking for damage to a home, never use matches, candles, lighters or kerosene lanterns as a light source. Igniting a flame while near damaged gas lines can cause an explosion.

Stay away from damaged buildings or structures: If a building has been subjected to rushing flood waters or has been submerged under water, it may not be structurally safe. It’s best to stay away from these types of structures until professionals can assess the extent of the damage.

Never operate gasoline-powered equipment indoors: Gas engines emit carbon monoxide—an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas you should never breathe.

Linemen from Kentucky’s electric cooperatives have played a crucial role in the power restoration efforts in Virginia after a powerful nor’easter last week.

As of Monday morning, more than 50 Kentucky linemen were still on the job, down from more than 70 linemen from 13 Kentucky cooperatives who responded to the mutual aid call on Friday. Several crews are heading home after helping restore power to Northern Neck EC and Shenandoah Valley EC.

Most of the Kentucky line workers continue to assist Rappahannock Electric Cooperative. As of Monday morning, fewer than 8,000 REC members remained without power, down from nearly 50,000 members who had lost service at the peak of the relentless wind storm.

“We appreciate the mutual aid we’ve received from our sister co-ops in Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia,” said Casey Hollins, Rappahannock EC Director of Communications and Public Relations. “The damage throughout our service territory was extensive. Without the assistance we have received our restoration efforts would have extended far beyond what they are. We know there will come a day when another co-op will need our help, and we will be ready to answer the call.”

In addition, one Kentucky-based crew has been deployed to Northern VA EC (NOVEC) and began work there Monday morning.

More than 800 separate outage events remain, each representing an outage affecting anywhere from 1 to 200 members.

Our crews have to travel to these unique locations and assess the damage, then move forward to restore the members’ power,” said Ron Harris, vice president of engineering and operations for REC. “We will be working around the clock with the REC employees, as well as our mutual aid employees, until all Rappahannock members have their power restored.

Owen Electric (Ky) linemen work to restore power to Rappahoncock Electric Co-op.

Nearly 175 poles have been or will be replaced as a result of the storm. The most severe damage occurred along and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where winds were the strongest.

“The damage and conditions are similar to what Kentucky experienced with Ike,” said Clarence Greene, Safety and Loss Prevention Director for the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives.
In September, 2008, the remnants of Hurricane Ike triggered a windstorm that knocked out power to about 600,000 Kentuckians.
Greene said Kentucky linemen are dealing with high winds and cold weather in Virginia, coupled with unfamiliarity with the service territory. “People with power out are grateful and patient getting power restored,” he said
Because the national network of transmission and distribution infrastructure owned by electric cooperatives has been built to federal standards, line crews from any co-op in America can arrive on the scene ready to provide emergency support, secure in their knowledge of the system’s engineering.
“We have always felt that what defines a co-op is reliability and family. In every corner of Kentucky we serve, we know our members and take care of them like family, and that expands to national electric cooperatives in times of need,” KAEC President Chris Perry said. “We are eager to help our co-op families in any way we can.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own member-owners.  Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.

Crews from Kentucky’s electric cooperatives are preparing for the potential impact of winter weather moving through the commonwealth on Friday and Saturday.

As of 10am (EST), about 100 power outages were reported by co-ops in central and western Kentucky. Co-ops serve about 1.5 million Kentuckians in 117 of 120 counties.

“Right now, co-op electric crews are loading and checking their trucks and restoration equipment to function correctly in the next few days of freezing rain, sleet and several inches of snow with wind and freezing temperatures we are expecting to see in Kentucky,” said Clarence Greene, director of safety and loss prevention at the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, the statewide association providing services to each electric cooperative in the state.

“Some problems restoration crews face are slick, slippery roads and walking surfaces,” Greene continued, “trees and downed power lines across roadways and possible back-feed from consumer generators and cold wet working conditions.”

Preparations with out of state crews have also been made if more help is needed, Greene added.

Kentucky’s electric cooperatives are stressing safety as the winter weather hits. Remember the following tips to stay safe and warm should you find yourself in the dark after a severe winter event:

• Never touch a fallen power line, and assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged. Call your electric co-op to report it immediately. Avoid contact with overhead lines during cleanup and other activities.
• In the event of an outage, an alternate heating source—such as a fireplace, propane space heater, or wood stove—may be used. Extreme caution should be taken.
• Plan to stay in an area of the home where the alternate heat source is located.
• Fuel- and wood-burning heating sources should be vented. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s directions.
• Make sure carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are working properly.
• Do not use a gas-powered oven for heating. A gas oven may go out or burn inefficiently, leading to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Do not use a gas or charcoal grill inside the home. Do not use charcoal briquettes in the fireplace.
• If you use a portable generator to power a heating source, be sure the generator is located outside your house for proper ventilation. Do not use a generator in an attached garage. Follow manufacturer’s directions for operating the generator.
• Take special care not to overload a generator. Use appropriately sized extension cords to carry the electric load. Make sure the cords have a grounded, three-pronged plug and are in good condition.
• Never run cords under rugs or carpets.
• Never connect generators to power lines. The reverse flow of electricity can electrocute an unsuspecting utility worker.

Ideally, your family will stay warm until the power comes back on. But keep an eye on family members for signs of hypothermia, which include shivering, drowsiness, and mental and physical slowness. The elderly and young children are particularly vulnerable to hypothermia. Call 911 immediately if you notice these symptoms. At least one telephone in the house that does not depend on electricity should be available in the case of a power outage.

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Kentucky electric cooperatives serve more than 1.5 million people—about 35% of the state’s population—in 117 of Kentucky’s 120 counties. The Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives provides representation before the Legislature, Congress, and regulatory bodies; safety training; coordination of management training; and public relations support including publication of Kentucky Living magazine. KAEC is governed by a board consisting of one manager and one director from each of its 26 member systems, and is headquartered in Louisville.

More than 86 linemen from 15 of Kentucky’s electric co-ops traveled to London, Kentucky last week to compete in the 13th annual Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives Lineman’s Rodeo.  The two-day event gave the lineman the opportunity to show off their skills in hopes of bringing home the main trophy.

In the end, it was the host Jackson Energy that took home the big prize.  A full list of winners is below.

“This was our first time hosting the rodeo,” said Carol Wright, President & CEO of Jackson Energy. “We were so pleased to see so many of our co-ops come out for this event.”

The competition featured both team and individual events.

“It’s a good working tool for keeping safe,” said Michael Ramsey, a lineman from South Kentucky RECC. “Speed matters, but it’s not the main thing. Safety’s an issue, and the more we concentrate on that, the more people who are going to go home safe every day. And that’s the best part of the rodeo.”

Here are highlights from the event:

Retrain your brain to be careful around electricity

By Paul Wesslund

FAMOUS LAST WORDS: “IT’LL BE ALL RIGHT.” OR, “I KNOW WHAT I’M DOING.” You know that something bad can follow either of those ominous beginnings. The bad things that could happen are at the top of the mind of electric co-op workers all across the state.

They know electricity can be dangerous enough to injure or kill. And you know that, too. But accidents still happen.

The goal of this story is to make fewer of those accidents happen, and maybe even save your life or the life of someone in your family.

One way to start telling this story is to listen to Clarence Greene. As the director of Safety and Loss Prevention for the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, he and his team—safety instructors Kendall Bush, Robert Thornton, and Charlie Lewis—spend every day thinking about how to keep people safe around electricity. Greene has heard comments like the ones above, and he’s familiar with the sometimes-fatal result when people take safety shortcuts.

“People feel like they want to accomplish things. They don’t want to ask for help,” says Greene. “We all want to save time and money. We’ve got the attitude, ‘It can’t happen to me.’”

“False sense of security” 

So why does our brain think accidents only happen to other people?

“There’s a psychological term for that,” says Dr. Sarah Shelton, licensed clinical psychologist and president-elect of the Kentucky Psychological Association. “It’s called ‘optimism bias.’ We see ourselves as special. Statistics don’t apply to us.”

Dr. Shelton, who practices in several cities across Kentucky, says our brains get lulled into taking electric safety for granted because we’re around it all the time.

“We handle plugs every day with no adverse effect,” she says. “It gives us a false sense of security.”

Dr. Shelton also blames the fast-paced world of smartphones and constant, multiple demands for our attention.

“We live in an overstimulated society with sensory overload,” she says. “Our brains are doing more than they can handle almost all the time.”

Part of that information barrage puts us in danger by trying to convince us we can do anything.

“YouTube videos take on the image of credibility and convince us we can do anything from baking cookies to changing oil to performing a triple coronary bypass,” says Dr. Shelton, maybe only half-kidding about the bypass surgery. “This can give us a false confidence in our own abilities. Saving a few dollars can be very alluring and being good stewards of our possessions can be a noble thing, but it can work against you in risks and safety.”

The next safety revolution

Steve Casner would agree we’re too distracted to be safe. He’s a research psychologist who just published Careful: A User’s Guide to Our Injury-Prone Minds. In that book he cites a 100-year trend of declining unintentional injury deaths in the United States. At least it was declining until 1992, when the rate of fatal injuries leveled off and then started to increase, setting us back to where we were 30 years ago.

Like Dr. Shelton, Casner blames the do-it-yourself movement and innovations that give us complicated gadgets to fool with while we drive faster cars. Casner says we’ve made ourselves safer with changes like seat belts and child-proof medicine caps, but he adds that further improvement calls for a new approach.

“We have wrung all the big gains we’re going to get from putting rubber corners on stuff,” Casner writes. “The next safety revolution is going to have to happen in our own minds.”

And we can change our own minds, says Dr. Shelton: “You can retrain your brain so you have good habits instead of bad habits.”

To do that, she says, take a lesson from airline pilots, who stay safe by following a rigid checklist.

A good personal checklist, Dr. Shelton recommends, uses the initials SEA—Stop, Evaluate, Act.

“It’s important to stop, slow down, and be aware of our surroundings,” she says, “and then to act—avoid the temptation to reach for the phone when you’re driving or on top of a ladder. Learn to ask yourself, ‘Is this worth my life?’”

KAEC safety director Clarence Greene, whose quotes started this story, provides a fitting finish with his top three important safety tips:
“No. 1, stay away from power lines. No. 2, stay away from power lines. No. 3, stay away from power lines.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 15, 2017) –  Kentucky electric cooperative crews providing mutual aid in Georgia can see the light at the end of Irma.

Five days after Hurricane Irma knocked out power to more than 550,000 electric cooperative customers in Georgia, co-op crews are working on the final six percent without power, about 34,000 co-op members.
More than 150 linemen from 19 Kentucky electric cooperatives have joined 4,350 linemen and hundreds of support personnel from 14 other states to assist in Georgia.

Unlike any storm in recent memory, Irma caused damage to all 41 EMCs in every region of Georgia. Crews have encountered a number of challenges making for a difficult and time-intensive restoration process:

• Repairs were delayed in some cases until severe winds moved through and it was safe for employees to resume work.
• Outages have been located in many areas that were inaccessible due to standing water and roads blocked by fallen trees and other debris.
• Crews have been cutting their way into many areas before repairs begin.
• Workers have been replacing record-numbers of broken power poles (surpassing previous records at many EMCs). Pole replacements are notoriously time- and labor intensive—one pole replacement can take as much as four hours.
• Crews have been working in unusually wet conditions, making it tough on employees, trucks and equipment.

Through careful coordination with co-op officials in the region, including the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, the linemen from electric cooperatives across Kentucky are assigned to individual Georgia co-ops who have requested their assistance.

In addition to co-op employees, Kentucky co-ops released line construction and right-of-way contract crews to respond to both Irma and Hurricane Harvey.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own member-owners.  Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.
Because the national network of transmission and distribution infrastructure owned by electric cooperatives has been built to federal standards, line crews from any co-op in America can arrive on the scene ready to provide emergency support, secure in their knowledge of the system’s engineering.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 12, 2017) – Crews from eight more Kentucky electric cooperatives are headed to Georgia on Tuesday to help with power restoration after Hurricane Irma.

In one of the largest mutual aid deployments in Kentucky history, 131 linemen and other crews from 17 Kentucky electric cooperatives are now deployed to Georgia after hurricane-force winds toppled trees onto power lines, causing numerous power outages. Additional Kentucky co-ops have also volunteered to send crews and are awaiting assignment.

As of 4pm Tuesday, 330,000 electric co-op members in Georgia were without power, down from more than 537,000 when Hurricane Irma’s strong winds and heavy rain toppled trees and power lines on Monday.

“Going into an area with widespread storm damage is one of the most dangerous things you can do as a lineman, but also one of the most rewarding,” said Calvin Larkins, West Kentucky RECC construction manager and a veteran of numerous storm deployments.

WKRECC sent nine people along with two bucket trucks, two digger trucks to set poles, and a couple of pickups towing ATV’s for areas that are hard to reach by truck. Crews already working in Georgia have encountered very challenging conditions.

Through careful coordination with co-op officials in the region, including the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, the linemen from electric cooperatives across Kentucky are assigned to individual Georgia co-ops who have requested their assistance.

Last year, KAEC coordinated the deployment of 143 linemen for Hurricane Matthew recovery, the most ever. In 2005, 120 Kentucky co-op linemen responded to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In addition to co-op employees, Kentucky co-ops had already released line construction and right-of-way contract crews to respond to Hurricane Harvey.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own member-owners. Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies.

Latest deployments:

Two crews (10 Line Technicians) from Pennyrile Electric, based in Hopkinsville, plus a six-man crew from Clark Energy in Winchester are traveling to Vienna, Georgia to assist Middle Georgia EMC, a cooperative serving over 8,000 members within a six county service area.

“As a cooperative that has requested help after natural disasters in previous years, we are glad to be able to provide assistance to the people affected by the devastation of Hurricane Irma,” said Pennyrile Electric President & CEO, Greg Grissom. “As we continue to keep the victims of both hurricanes, Harvey and Irma, in our thoughts and prayers, our focus is to assist with power restoration with safety our top priority.”

Crews from three electric cooperatives departed Kentucky on Tuesday, bound for Oconee EMC which serves 8,000 co-op members in central Georgia. Grayson RECC, Licking Valley RECC, based in West Liberty, and Farmers RECC, based in Glasgow all sent crews to Oconee.

West Kentucky RECC crews in Mayfield and crews from Cumberland Valley Electric, based in Gray also left Kentucky on Tuesday to assist Planters EMC members in a seven-county territory in southeastern Georgia.

“Serving our own members is always our first priority, but as a cooperative, we are strongly committed to helping others,” said David Smart, West Kentucky Rural Electric President & CEO. “Please keep the families affected by this storm in your thoughts and prayers along with the first responders and the thousands of linemen who are going in to help restore power.”
Bluegrass Energy in Nicholasville is sending eight linemen, two crews of four, to Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. Three crews from Kenergy Corporation, based in Owensboro, are also assisting Central Georgia EMC, which serves 54,000 billed accounts in 14 counties.

Jackson Energy in McKee, Kentucky has deployed 13 employees to Georgia to assist in power restoration after Hurricane Irma. 12 linemen and a mechanic are helping Coweta-Fayette EMC.

Two crews from Salt River Electric, based in Bardstown, are helping co-op members at Flint Energies, which serves 17 central Georgia counties.

Three crews each from Owen Electric and South Kentucky RECC are assisting Coastal Electric Cooperative which serves roughly 573 square miles with 1,491 miles of line in three counties on the Atlantic Coast.

After initially helping Carroll EMC, west of Atlanta, crews from both Jackson Purchase Energy, based in Paducah and Meade County RECC are now helping restore power to Snapping Shoals EMC, which serves 95,000 members in an eight-county area southeast of Atlanta.

Three crews from Kenergy Corporation, based in Owensboro, are assisting Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, which serves 54,000 billed accounts in 14 counties.

Three crews from Nolin Rural Electric Cooperative, based in Elizabethtown, are deployed to Excelsior EMC, which serves eight counties in southeast Georgia.

Georgia’s 41 co-ops serve 73% of the state’s land area in 157 of 159 counties, 4.4 million of the state’s 10 million residents, operating the largest distribution network in the state with 188,099 miles of line.

Every co-op has an emergency plan, and part of that planning includes what is both a unique and an effective approach to emergency management and disaster recovery: mutual assistance. When disaster strikes, co-ops quickly deploy support staff and equipment to emergency and recovery zones to help sister co-ops restore power.
Because the national network of transmission and distribution infrastructure owned by electric cooperatives has been built to federal standards, line crews from any co-op in America can arrive on the scene ready to provide emergency support, secure in their knowledge of the system’s engineering.

“We ask all of Kentucky to pray for the safety of these dedicated co-op employees and the people they are going to serve,” said Chris Perry, president and CEO of Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives. “Our co-op model serves us well all year long, and especially when our brothers and sisters need help.”

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 11, 2017) –  In one of the largest mutual aid deployments in Kentucky history, more than 100 linemen and other crews from 11 Kentucky electric cooperatives are now deployed to Georgia after hurricane-force winds toppled trees onto power lines, causing numerous power outages.

As of 6pm Monday, Hurricane Irma’s strong winds and heavy rain has knocked out power to more than 504,000 co-op members in Georgia.

Through careful coordination with co-op officials in the region, including the Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, 103 linemen from electric cooperatives across Kentucky are assigned to individual Georgia co-ops who have requested their assistance. Additional Kentucky co-ops have also volunteered to send crews and are awaiting assignment.

Last year, KAEC coordinated the deployment of 143 linemen for Hurricane Matthew recovery, the most ever.  In 2005, 120 Kentucky co-op linemen responded to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

In addition to co-op employees, Kentucky co-ops had already released line construction and right-of-way contract crews to respond to Hurricane Harvey.

The top priority of each local Kentucky co-op is service to its own member-owners.  Before committing resources to mutual aid requests, each co-op ensures it has ample crews available for all local needs, including routine maintenance and emergencies. In addition, Kentucky co-ops are closely monitoring the projected path of Hurricane Irma to assess whether it will affect co-op territory, here.

Jackson Energy in McKee, Kentucky has deployed 13 employees to Georgia to assist in power restoration after Hurricane Irma. 12 linemen and a mechanic are helping Coweta-Fayette EMC.

Bluegrass Energy in Nicholasville is sending eight linemen, two crews of four, to Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation. Three crews from Kenergy Corporation, based in Owensboro, are also assisting Central Georgia EMC, which serves 54,000 billed accounts in 14 counties.

West Kentucky RECC crews in Mayfield and crews from Cumberland Valley Electric, based in Gray are helping Planters EMC members in a seven-county territory in southeastern Georgia.

Two crews from Salt River Electric, based in Bardstown, are helping co-op members at Flint Energies, which serves 17 central Georgia counties.

Three crews each from Owen Electric and South Kentucky RECC are assisting Coastal Electric Cooperative which serves roughly 573 square miles with 1,491 miles of line in three counties on the Atlantic Coast.

Crews from Jackson Purchase Energy and Meade County RECC are helping restore power to  Carroll EMC, which serves seven counties west of Atlanta.

Three crews from Kenergy Corporation, based in Owensboro, are assisting Central Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, which serves 54,000 billed accounts in 14 counties.

Three crews from Nolin Rural Electric Cooperative, based in Elizabethtown, are deployed to Excelsior EMC, which serves eight counties in southeast Georgia.

Georgia’s 41 co-ops serve 73% of the state’s land area in 157 of 159 counties, 4.4 million of the state’s 10 million residents, operating the largest distribution network in the state with 188,099 miles of line.

Every co-op has an emergency plan, and part of that planning includes what is both a unique and an effective approach to emergency management and disaster recovery: mutual assistance. When disaster strikes, co-ops quickly deploy support staff and equipment to emergency and recovery zones to help sister co-ops restore power.

Because the national network of transmission and distribution infrastructure owned by electric cooperatives has been built to federal standards, line crews from any co-op in America can arrive on the scene ready to provide emergency support, secure in their knowledge of the system’s engineering.