A few basic outdoor electric safety tips could save your life or someone else's. Whether you are having fun, landscaping, planting or performing home repairs, always keep safety in mind.

• Lower all equipment before passing near or beneath power lines.
• Have someone spot for you when moving equipment.
• Avoid guy wires and poles.
• Do not raise a ladder or other equipment without first looking up.
• Be careful when adjusting roof antennas
• When using electrical appliances and tools outdoors, make sure they are properly grounded and that your work area is dry.
• Remind children never to climb utility poles or trees near utility poles.
• Make sure children fly their kites in wide open spaces far way from power lines.
• Plant trees at least 20 feet away from overhead power lines and 10 feet away from underground facilities and meter installations. Check to see how tall and bushy the tree will be at maturity. You may want to consider slow growing or smaller trees if there is a power line overhead. When a tree limb comes in contact with a power line, it could cause an outage for you and your neighbors.
• Keep shrubs and trees away from transformers and electric meters.
• When trimming trees, avoid contact with power lines.
• Make sure tools and appliances are approved for outdoor use. They are made with heavier wiring, special insulating and three-way grounded plugs.
• Be alert for damaged plugs and cords on outdoor electrical appliances and fixtures. Outdoor electrical outlets should have weatherproof covers and ground fault circuit interrupters to protect against shock.