Electricity powers our homes, farms, businesses, and communities every day. Practicing safe habits around power lines, electrical equipment, and utility infrastructure helps protect your family, coworkers, and neighbors. The Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association (WECA) and Safe Electricity provides resources, educational materials, and seasonal safety reminders to help you stay safe year-round.
Whether you're planning a landscaping project, preparing for severe weather, working outdoors, or teaching electrical safety to children, you'll find helpful information and tools below.
Seasonal Safety Tips
Safety concerns change throughout the year. Review these seasonal reminders to help protect yourself and others.
Winter Safety
Cold weather and winter storms can increase the risk of electrical hazards.
Helpful reminders:
- Use space heaters safely
- Avoid overloading outlets and power strips
- Stay clear of downed power lines after snow and ice storms
- Prepare emergency outage kits
Spring Safety
As winter conditions fade, spring brings landscaping projects, outdoor work, and severe weather.
Helpful reminders:
- Call 811 before digging
- Use caution when trimming trees near power lines
- Prepare for spring storms and flooding
- Inspect outdoor electrical equipment after winter
Summer Safety
Summer activities often put people in closer contact with electricity outdoors.
Helpful reminders:
- Keep electrical devices away from pools and water
- Use extension cords safely
- Watch for overhead power lines when using ladders or recreational equipment
- Practice generator safety during outages
Fall Safety
Harvest and hunting seasons create unique electrical safety considerations.
Helpful reminders:
- Stay aware of overhead lines when operating large farm equipment
- Use caution when cleaning gutters or working on roofs
- Be alert around utility equipment while hunting
- Review storm preparedness plans
Emergency Safety Reminders
If you encounter a downed power line or electrical emergency:
- Stay far away from the area.
- Assume all power lines are energized.
- Never drive over a downed line.
- Call 911 and your local electric cooperative immediately.
- Warn others to stay away until utility crews arrive.
Remember: If there is any doubt about a power line's condition, stay away and contact your electric cooperative.
Stay Safe Year-Round
Safety is everyone's responsibility. By staying informed and taking simple precautions, we can help keep Wisconsin's communities, farms, businesses, and families safe throughout the year.
For additional safety information, contact your local electric cooperative or explore the resources available throughout this page.
Diggers Hotline & Safe Digging
Before starting any excavation project, contact 811 to have underground utility lines marked. Even small projects such as planting trees, installing fences, or building decks can accidentally damage underground facilities and create dangerous situations.
The Energy Education Council (EEC) is an internationally recognized leader in providing a wealth of safety, efficiency, and renewable energy information. EEC was created and is supported by a diverse group of organizations united by mutually important consumer issues. Their mission is to provide life-saving, energy-saving, and cost-saving information and resources.
Established in 1952, EEC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose members include investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, municipal utilities, educators, and others reaching millions of consumers. In addition to extensive online consumer and educator resources, EEC members have access to exclusive services including a wide assortment of educational materials and communication tools—including timely news releases, professionally designed consumer materials, a photo library of more than 1500 images, television and radio PSAs, and much more.
Safe Electricity® is an award-winning, multi-media public awareness program of EEC. Since the program’s creation in 2001, Safe Electricity® has been providing information to consumers and helping compliment the safety education activities of utilities and educators. The program provides life-saving information through many channels—including its comprehensive web site, radio and television public service announcements, videos, and more. Safe Electricity® has received national recognition for the quality and scope of its programs and services and is pleased to have the generous sponsorship support of Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange.