Electricity powers our world, but it's important to remember that it can also be very dangerous—if not handled properly, it can even be deadly.
Besides the risk of death, electricity can also cause painful shocks, ruin delicate gadgets, and start fires. That's why we offer resources to help our members learn about the dangers of electricity and how to stay safe around it.
Safety Resources
Saf-T-Net
Alabama SAF-T-Net is a weather alerting system that uses mobile technology to deliver severe weather warnings and alerts to subscribers. The service is being offered at no cost in Alabama. Cullman EC has joined SAF-T-Net’s network of media partners. Anyone with a smartphone can download the Alabama SAF-T-Net app to their phone.
Down Lines and Power Line Safety
Whether you are playing outdoors with your children or working on landscaping projects, keep a safe distance from power lines and other equipment your co-op uses to get electricity to your home.
- Stay away from power lines, meters, transformers, and electrical boxes.
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Don’t climb trees near power lines.
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Never fly kites, remote-controlled airplanes, or balloons near power lines.
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If you get something stuck in a power line, call your Cullman Electric Co-op to get it.
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Keep a safe distance from overhead power lines when working with ladders or installing objects such as antennas.
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Never touch or go near a downed power line.
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Don’t touch anything that may be touching a downed wire, such as a car.
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Keep children and pets away.
Storm Prep
In North Alabama, we are no strangers to the dangers of severe storms. It is essential to have a plan in place to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. Start by identifying a secure shelter in your home, such as a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor. Additionally, create an emergency kit with essentials like water, non-perishable food, flashlights, and a first aid kit to ensure you're prepared for any situation.
Power Line Hazards and Cars
As in all power line-related emergencies, call for help immediately by dialing 911.
If a power line falls on a car, you should stay inside the vehicle. This is the safest place to stay. Warn people not to touch the car or the line. Call or ask someone to call the local cooperative and emergency services.
The only circumstance in which you should consider leaving a car that is in contact with a downed power line is if the vehicle catches on fire. Open the door. Do not step out of the car. You may receive a shock. Instead, jump free of the car so that your body clears the vehicle before touching the ground. Once you clear the car, shuffle at least 50 feet away with both feet on the ground.
Electric Shock Drowning (ESD)
Boating and swimming are fun pastimes and great ways to cool off when temperatures get hot. However, many are unaware of a hidden danger—electric shock drowning (ESD). ESD is a silent killer, and there is no visible warning or way to tell if the water surrounding a boat, marina, or dock is energized or will, within seconds, become energized with fatal levels of electricity.
Generator Safety
A generator can be a valuable piece of equipment to keep appliances working during a power outage. Generators can be either temporary or permanently installed.
A permanent generator is wired into a house by a qualified electrician using a transfer switch that prevents a generator from feeding electricity back into overhead lines, which can be deadly for linemen.
A temporary generator is powered by gasoline and should not be attached to a circuit breaker, fuse, or outlet.
It is important that your generator is installed or operated correctly to protect linemen working on the lines and keep your family safe from carbon monoxide.
GenerLink
Cullman Electric can install GenerLinkTM devices to eliminate hazards for you and any utility crew working in the area. The device provides a safe connection from the electric meter to the generator and automatically disconnects from the utility grid to prevent dangerous backfeeding.
GenerLink™ devices are available through Cullman Electric Cooperative for service 200 amps or lower.
If you are interested in installing a generator:
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Call 256-737-3200 or email us (info@cullmanec.com) for more information and prices.
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Cullman Electric technician will come out to your home to complete the installation.
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Your GenerLink™ device will not be installed until we have received payment.
8-1-1
Digging without locating underground utilities could leave neighborhoods in the dark, cause thousands of dollars in damages, or cause severe electrical shock. This is true regardless of how much area your project will cover or whether you consider the job to be large or small. To help stay safe, make use of the national underground utility locating service for free by calling 8-1-1.