Staying Safe Around Electricity
Electricity powers the way we live — lighting our homes, our communities, and keeping us connected. But with its many advantages comes the need to use it wisely and safely. Electrical safety isn’t just about avoiding accidents; it’s about protecting what matters most while making the most of this essential resource.
Being prepared for electrical emergencies, knowing how to respond during outages or storms, and practicing safe habits every day can help prevent injuries and save lives. That’s why we’ve compiled a collection of helpful tips, emergency procedures, and educational resources — to equip you with the knowledge you need to make smart, safe choices.
Electricity is powerful and beneficial, but it must be treated with respect. With the right information, you can enjoy its benefits confidently and responsibly. Browse our safety resources below and take steps to protect yourself, your family, and your community.
Electrical Emergencies
Downed power lines are extremely dangerous and can cause severe injury or even death. Always assume a downed line is live and stay at least 35 feet away.
If you encounter a downed power line:
- Do not touch the line or anything in contact with it.
- Stay back at least 35 feet.
- Move away safely by shuffling with small steps, keeping your feet together and on the ground to reduce the risk of electric shock.
If a power line falls on your vehicle:
- Stay inside the vehicle and call for help.
- Warn others to stay away from the vehicle.
- If you must exit, jump clear of the car without touching it and the ground at the same time. Then shuffle at least 35 feet away with your feet together.
If you see a downed line or witness an accident involving one, stay at a safe distance and call us immediately at (509) 422-3310.
- In case of an electrical fire, unplug the faulty appliance or turn off the power, if possible. Never throw water on an electrical fire.
- If it is small, put it out with a multipurpose fire extinguisher, class "C" electric fire extinguisher, or baking soda.
- Avoid trees, poles and other tall objects. Go to low ground and crouch down if caught outdoors.
- Stay out of the water. Never go swimming or boating during a storm. If you are in the water, get out as quickly as possible.
Outage & Storm Preparation
If you are experiencing an outage, call (509) 422-3310 or (800) 922-7011 OK PUD has line crews on call around the clock, 24/7, ready to restore power as quickly as possible.
Power outages can happen unexpectedly, so being prepared is key to staying safe and comfortable. Here are some important tips to help you get ready and respond safely:
- Keep flashlights handy in easy-to-find places.
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed to preserve food. Items can stay cold for at least 24 hours if unopened.
- Use generators safely. A portable generator must be connected through an approved transfer switch that is isolated from OK PUD. In the event of an outage, if the generator activates, it could cause backfeed into the system, potentially leading to serious injury or death to a lineman.
- If you rely on electricity for medical equipment, have a backup plan. Be prepared to relocate to a powered location or go to the hospital if needed.
- Never use ovens, barbecues, portable heaters, or generators indoors — they produce dangerous, even deadly, carbon monoxide fumes.
- Cordless phones need electricity to work. Keep a phone that doesn’t require power or have a charged power bank or spare phone battery on hand.
- When the power goes out, turn off appliances and devices that were on, especially anything with a heating element (like an oven, toaster, or iron). This helps prevent fires when power returns and avoids overloading the system during restoration.
- Keep flammable items such as blankets and curtains away from lit candles.
- Flashlights and batteries, glow-in-the-dark sticks, and/or battery-operated lantern
- Candles and matches
- Portable radio and batteries
- Power bank to charge your phone
- Windup clock
- Mylar blanket
- Hat and gloves
- Can opener and food that doesn't require refrigeration
- Water - 1 gallon per person per day
Safety Tips for Home
Outlets, Plugs, & Cords
- Check for outlets that have loose fitting plugs, which can overheat and lead to fire.
- Make sure there are safety covers on all unused outlets that are accessible to children.
- Replace any missing or broken wall plates.
- GFCIs quickly shut off power when problems occur to minimize electrical shock hazards.
- Test GFCIs regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions to make sure they are working properly.
- Make sure the plugs fit the outlets. Never remove the ground pin (the third prong) to make a three-prong fit a two-conductor outlet; this could lead to an electrical shock. Never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit.
- Avoid overloading outlets with too many appliances.
- Pull by the plug, not the cord when unplugging an appliance.
- Make sure cords are in good condition--not frayed or cracked.
- Make sure cords are placed out of traffic areas.
- Cords should never be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard, or to another object.
- Do not place cords under carpets or rugs or rest any furniture on them.
- Check to see that extension cords are not overloaded.
- Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis; they are not intended as permanent household wiring.
- Make sure extension cords have safety closures to help prevent young children from shock hazards and mouth burn injuries.
- Check the wattage of all bulbs in light fixtures to make sure they are the correct wattage for the size of the fixture.
- Replace bulbs that have a higher wattage than recommended. If you don't know the correct wattage, check with the manufacturer of the fixture.
- Make sure bulbs are screwed in securely; loose bulbs may overheat.
- Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their circuit. If you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used.
- Always replace a fuse with the same size fuse.
- If a fuse "blows", unplug the appliance causing the problem. Shut off the main power switch on the fuse box. Replace the burned fuse with a new one of the power rating, then turn on the main power switch.
- Always keep a flashlight handy. Stand on a dry surface when touching a fuse or breaker box.
- Never use a penny or aluminum foil to replace a fuse.
Appliances & Equipment
Before you purchase, install and use a generator during a power outage, check for these safety issues:
Backfeed: Never plug a generator into an electrical outlet- this could cause backfeed, which sends electricity from the generator, through the home’s wiring, out through the electric meter and energizes the power lines. Backfeed can injure or kill a utility worker repairing a power line.
Transfer Switch: When operating a generator, connecting appliances that are hard-wired to the house’s wiring system requires the use of a transfer switch. The switch will mechanically disconnect the household’s circuit from the utility’s power grid.
A transfer switch MUST be used to avoid backfeed into the utility’s power grid and is required by electric code.
Installation: Electric code requires that a licensed electrician install stationary generators that are permanently wired to the household’s electrical system. The owner of the generator must acquire an electrical permit, and the unit must be inspected.
Please contact WA State L&I for an inspection: (509) 886-6500
- Space heaters are meant to supply supplemental heat. Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from any combustible materials such as bedding, clothing, draperies, furniture, and rugs.
- Don't use in rooms where children are unsupervised.
- Remember to turn off and unplug when not in use.
- If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, or if it has given you a shock, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced
- Never use any electric appliance in the tub or shower
- Never insert objects into an appliance without disconnecting it.
- Unplug appliances when not in use.
- Don't leave plugged in appliances where they might fall in contact with water.
- If a plugged-in appliance falls into water, NEVER reach in to pull it out - even if it's turned off. First turn off the power source at the panel board and then unplug the appliance.
- If you have an appliance that has gotten wet, don't use it until it has been checked by a qualified repairperson.
- Don't leave plugged in appliances where they might fall in contact with water.
- If a plugged-in appliance falls into water, NEVER reach in to pull it out - even if it's turned off. First turn off the power source at the panel board and then unplug the appliance.
- If you have an appliance that has gotten wet, don't use it until it has been checked by a qualified repairperson.
- Teach children to stay away from power lines, substations, and transformers.
- Stay at least 35 feet away from downed wires.
- Be careful to keep drones, Mylar balloons, kites, and other flying objects far away from substations, power lines and other electrical equipment. Never attempt to retrieve anything from a substation or power line. This can cause serious harm to you and those around you. If you need help retrieving anything from a substation, call our Outage Line at (509) 422-3310.
- Do not cut or trim branches that are in contact with power lines. Call Okanogan PUD if concerned about the power lines near or in your trees.
- Always watch out for overhead wires and power lines when using a ladder, pool skimmer, or any long object. Make sure tools are approved for outdoor use. They are made with heavier wiring, special insulation, and three-way grounded plugs.
- Electric-powered mowers and other tools should not be used in the rain, on wet grass, or in wet conditions.
- Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers before each use for frayed power cords, broken plugs, and cracked or broken housings. Stop using it immediately if damaged. Repair it or replace it. Always use an extension cord marked for outdoor use and rated for the power needs of your tools. Remember to unplug all portable power tools when not in use.
Know what’s below. Anytime you are doing a project that involves excavation there is the potential of hitting utility lines. Not only is this potentially dangerous, but you are responsible for the cost of any damages to the lines. Call 8-1-1 before you begin a project, they will notify the PUD which can locate utility lines in the work area.