News
-
Summer Safety Tips
When the weather gets hot, we head outdoors for sun and fun. Keep in mind some tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International to make sure everyone has a safe summer. Water and electricity don’t mix Summer is the season for swimming and boating, and awareness of electrical hazards around water can prevent deaths and injuries. Water and electricity don’t mix. Sailboats often have masts of 30 feet or more, which are dangerous when they come into contact with overhead power lines. Look up as you get close to shore, and stay at least 10 feet away from overhead lines. [...]
-
Space Heater Safety
NASHVILLE – Tennessee residents are experiencing the first real taste of winter this week, and Tennessee’s electric cooperatives remind homeowners that space heaters can be dangerous when not used properly. According to the National Fire Protection Association, half of all home-heating fires occur in December, January and February, and heating equipment fires account for 18 percent of all reported home fires and 22 percent of home fire deaths. Here are a few tips to remember when using space heaters: Be certain that space heaters at least 3 feet away from curtains, furniture and other household items. Select a heater that [...]
-
Invite Safety Home for the Holidays
With tips from the electric cooperatives of Tennessee and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) The winter holiday season is traditionally a festive and eventful time of year, filled with celebrations, family gatherings, and visits from houseguests. In fact, results from a national survey conducted by ESFI indicate that nearly sixty percent of Americans typically host guests in their homes during the holidays. It’s easy to get caught up in the hectic pace of holiday entertaining – cookies to bake, decorations to hang, presents to wrap – but ESFI and the electric cooperatives of Tennessee urge you not to overlook [...]
-
Copper Theft
The price of copper has skyrocketed in recent years. Scrap copper is selling for five times the amount it went for just 10 years ago. Electric cooperatives in Tennessee use large quantities of copper and have been particularly hard hit by thieves. Cooper theft can severely damage a cooperative’s electric system and poses a serious safety threat for thieves as well as electric cooperative members and employees. “The value of a few hundred dollars of scrap copper wire is certainly not worth someone losing their life,” said Duck River Electric Membership Corporation Safety Coordinator, Troy Crowell. Recently, the DREMC service [...]