From the Manager Safety and Propane Prices
Be it you, the member, our employees, or the general public, safety is your Cooperative’s number one priority. As May is Electric Safety Month, I want to take this opportunity to share just a few safety tips.
The best way to stay safe around power lines is to first find their location. As simple as it may seem, look up! Most accidents involving overhead power lines are due to people not being aware of where the lines are located. Whenever using a ladder, scaffolding or an elevated platform, make sure you know were overhead lines are located. This is also true when using large farm machinery, particularly grain elevators.
Always assume any of our lines are energized! Even if they are on the ground! Never get close to them and make sure others do not either!
The best way to locate underground line is to call Iowa One Call at 1-800-292-8989 or 811 at least 48 hours BEFORE any excavating. There is no charge to locate lines up to the meter. There can be fees for locating member wiring. Not only is damaging underground cables dangerous, it can be very expensive. Repairing our underground cables can easily run up to a thousand dollars. Calling Iowa One Call is not just a good idea, it is the law.
Once you know where our lines are located the only way to be safe is to maintain a distance of at least ten feet. We call this the “approach distance” or the “10-foot rule.” For our linemen to be within the approach distance, they must be wearing rubber gloves and sleeves rated for the voltage of the line. This is true even when they are working from a bucket truck. If any of your activities appear to place you or any equipment within ten feet of our lines, call us so we can make the area safe, as it may require the line to be raised or reenergized.
If you are ever in a vehicle accident involving a power line, unless the vehicle is on fire, stay in the vehicle until utility personnel tell you it is safe to get out. If you must get out of the vehicle because it’s on fire, you must jump free of the vehicle without touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time, keeping your feet together. If you come upon a vehicle accident involving a power line, keep everyone away from the vehicle and the power line until the utility has made the scene safe.
These are but a few safety tips, for more visit the Safe Electricity web site at www.safeelectricity.org or our website at www.accessenergycoop.com.
PROPANE
While I can’t predict the future, you can expect propane prices to be higher this coming winter. Currently wholesale prices are running about fifty cents higher than a year ago. One of the main reasons is low inventories for propane. Last year’s corn drying and cold winter temperatures has dropped supplies below the five year average. Higher world prices for propane are reducing imports and resulting in exports from the United States. Speculators are also returning to the petroleum markets driving up the cost of propane. Access Energy Propane customers can take advantage of several programs we offer, such as our Three Pay Plan or our Budget Plan to help you budget for the higher cost this heating season.