Safety
At CEMC, nothing is more important than safety. That’s why we put safety first in everything we do. We encourage you to review these important electrical safety tips and share them with your family and friends.
Outdoor Electrical Safety
- Never touch or go near fallen wires, even if you think they are safe.
- Don’t raise any tall objects without looking up.
- Call us before you trim any trees near power lines.
- Avoid planting trees under power lines.
- Never fly kites or model airplanes near power lines.
- If a kite, or any other object, is caught in a line or nearby tree, leave it alone.
Indoor Electrical Safety
- Remember that electricity and water don’t mix.
- Keep appliances, especially hair dryers, away from bathtubs, puddles, sinks and wet hands.
- Never put metal objects in live parts of appliances or in outlets.
- If an appliance overheats, unplug it and have it checked.
- Use only electrical equipment that is approved by a recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
- Use extension cords sparingly. Too many appliances plugged into one cord causes overheating.
- Check electrical cords for worn spots or frayed wires. Don’t try to mend them, replace them.
Downed Electrical Lines
Call 911 and CEMC to report downed electrical lines at (800) 987-CEMC (2362). Don’t touch or attempt to move any downed lines.
Avoid the Big Green Box
Please stay away from pad-mounted transformers (the big green box). While safe, they are not meant for touching, climbing or playing. Pad-mounted transformers carry high voltages of electricity that serve many homes in our communities.
Generator Safety
While CEMC is committed to providing safe and reliable power, outages do happen. While most outages are restored quickly, weather and other factors can affect how quickly your power may be restored. Generators are commonly used during these times to power crucial items such as heating/cooling, and refrigeration. However, if improperly installed or operated, generators can be deadly to you, your neighbors and those working to restore your power.
| Appliance | Demand (kW) |
|---|---|
| Aux / EM Heat or Electric Furnace | 10-15 |
| Heat Pump / AC Compressor | 2-5 |
| Dryer | 5.0 |
| Oven (self-clean cycle) | 4.8 |
| Water Heater | 4.5 |
| Ranger (large surface unit) | 2.5 |
| Broiler | 2.5 |
| Plug in Heater | 1.5 |
| Deep Fryer | 1.5 |
| Microwave Oven | 1.5 |
| Roaster | 1.4 |
| Range (small surface unit) | 1.3 |
| Appliance | Demand (kW) |
|---|---|
| Hot Plate | 1.3 |
| Dishwasher | 1.2 |
| Fry Pan | 1.2 |
| Sandwich Grill – Waffle Iron | 1.2 |
| Toaster | 1.2 |
| Hand Iron | 1.0 |
| Coffee maker | .9 |
| Vacuum Cleaner | .7 |
| Hair Dryer | .7 |
| Washing Machine | .5 |
| Waste Disposal | .4 |
Call before you dig
Buried utilities could exist just about anywhere you dig. You can help prevent possible injury and damage to underground utilities by calling 811, or (800) 351-1111 at least three working days prior to excavating.
