PowerLines May 2024

May 2, 2024

DMEA’s Top Five Electrical Safety Tips for Members

Chad Stickler, Safety Director

Guest columnist Chad Stickler is DMEA’s Safety Director. He is responsible for building DMEA’s strong safety culture, providing guidance on safety regulations and compliance requirements, developing training programs for all personnel, and leading the co-op’s emergency action response.

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and there’s no better way to celebrate than by reminding you, our members, how to stay safe around electric appliances, equipment, and power lines. I’m responsible for ensuring not only the safety of our team around our system, but also yours. Here at DMEA, we talk about safety every day. It’s just what we do, and it’s all too easy to assume that you know just as much about electrical safety as we do. But we all know what happens when you assume things, so I’m sharing my top five electrical safety tips this month.

Never touch a power line. High-voltage electricity flows through our power lines 24/7/365, but you can’t see, smell, or hear it. You already know to stay clear of our overhead lines, but in some cases, those lines are brought down by trees, auto accidents, or weather. Even then, a power line may still be energized, and touching it could lead to severe injury and death.
Don’t play on electrical equipment. Teach your children never to climb trees or fly kites and drones near power lines. Additionally, keep kids from climbing or sitting on the ‘green boxes’ in your yard. This ground equipment provides access to high-voltage electricity and is not a safe place to play.
Call before you dig. Not only is it required by Colorado law to locate underground utilities before any digging project, but it will also keep you safe. Whether you are planting a few trees or getting ready to excavate a pond, call 811 at least two days before your project. Colorado 811 will locate all underground utilities free of charge, and you’ll avoid damaging underground power, gas, and water lines.
Water and electricity don’t mix. Water is an excellent conductor of electricity, which means if water is sprayed or pooled where electricity is present, there is the potential for dangerous shock. A new risk entered the scene with smartphones, too. Never plug your phone in to charge and use it while bathing or in a swimming pool.
When in doubt, give us a shout. See a tree growing into a power line? Call us. Notice a leaning power pole? Call us. Or maybe you just watched your neighbor back their trailer into the pad-mounted transformer near the corner or their driveway. Call us. Never try to troubleshoot or fix issues with DMEA equipment yourself. We’re here to help.

I hope you’ll take a moment to share these tips with your children and loved ones. Please stay safe out there!

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Local Adventures Await

Free fun for the family! Join us on Thursday, June 6 for a recap of the co-op’s accomplishments at the DMEA Annual Meeting featuring a trove of local treasures, including food, community highlights, and entertainment.

Thursday, June 6, 4:30 - 8 p.m.
Columbine Middle School, 610 York St., Montrose

DMEA Board Election voting 4:30 – 5:30 p.m*
Get to know your DMEA Board of Directors
Recap of 2023 accomplishments
Local Food
Treasure Hunt
Prizes
Kids’ activities

*Ballots for the 2024 DMEA Board of Directors Election will arrive by mail this month. As a cooperative member, it is both your right and responsibility to vote for your board representatives. Vote online, by mail, or in person at the Annual Meeting.

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Foundations for the Future

Elevate Internet Grant

One $10,000 grant will be awarded to a non-profit organization or agency based in Elevate/DMEA territory that directly impacts the quality of life for senior citizens within our communities.

What we fund:

Programs
Services
Small-scale capital facility improvements
Resources for seniors ages 55 and over

Application deadline: June 30, 2024

Awards announced in August

Find more information & apply at elevateinternet.com/news/ 2024-foundations

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It's Better Here

Watch our latest ad featuring Homestead Meats! They're leaving a legacy of innovation and sustainability—a legacy we proudly share. Together, we're setting future generations up for even greater success.

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We Mean Business

Elevate’s 100% fiber network provides your business with the tools it needs to succeed and stay connected to your customers and employees.

Every business has different needs when it comes to internet. Are you transferring large files? Ordering merchandise? Keeping your customers happy with free Wi-Fi? Or maybe all three? Either way, you need an internet connection you can count on – and that’s where we come in. Elevate Internet delivers ultra-fast speeds starting at 400 Mbps up to 6 Gig (6,000 Mbps) on our 100% fiber-optic network, ensuring you have the speed, connection, and reliability you need to keep things running.
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Schedule your free consultation

No two businesses are alike, and we embrace that. Elevate is here to understand your business goals and needs and offer advanced communication solutions that let you run your business your way, whether it’s just you or 500 employees.

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Concern for Community

Lineworker Lunch and Learn at Delta High School

DMEA lineworkers Wade Rowley, Jeff Anderson, Spencer Barnes, and Cody Littlefield hosted a lunch with 22 Delta High School students in March. The purpose was to inform students about what it’s like to be a lineworker, all while eating tasty pizza brought by the crew.

Students asked questions about what it takes to become a lineman and the day-to-day work. DMEA's crew told stories about their experience in the trade and talked about the education needed to become a lineworker from start to finish.

The crew emphasized the importance of getting a diploma or GED first and then walked students through the process, including choosing a trade school such as Mesa Hotline School, the aptitude test, apprenticeship programs like the one offered by DMEA, and attaining journeyman status.

“It is great to get out into the community and let these kids know that they have career options. It’s important to recruit the next generation of lineworkers.” - Wade Rowley, DMEA Lineworker

How we help:

DMEA offers more than $50,000 in post-secondary scholarships to its members and their dependents, including four specific scholarships for students pursuing lineworker careers. This year’s scholarships are closed but will open again in early 2025.
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Interested in a lineworker career?

Check out co-op jobs at careers.electric.coop/jobseekers/

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Cyber Safety for Seniors

Being online makes connecting with friends and loved ones easy when you can’t visit in person. Unfortunately, bad actors are waiting to steal your personal information (and money)! Follow these tips to stay safe:

Update Your Device and Software.
Ensure your computer, smartphone, and browser are up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates.
Use Secure Websites.
Stick to reputable online retailers with secure websites. Look for "https://" and a padlock icon in the address bar.
Create Unique Strong Passwords.
Consider using a reputable password manager to help you generate and store passwords securely.
Use Credit Cards.
Credit cards often offer better fraud protection. Be sure to review your statements regularly!
Protect Your Wi-Fi with ElevateIQ.
Get ‘round the clock protection from hackers, malware, and viruses for every device connected to your home internet. Best of all, you already have FREE access to ElevateIQ with your internet service.

Download the app today and ensure you are protected every time you’re connected.

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Plant Trees Safely

Its spring and time to put the landscape plans you dreamed up this winter into action. Whether it is new trees, shrubs, a fence, or a deck, remember these safety tips before digging into your projects:

Plan your planting

Before selecting and planting a tree, remember to look up to determine where the tree will be located in relation to overhead utility lines.

Avoid planting within 20 feet of power lines. If planting is unavoidable, only plant shrubs and small trees that reach a mature height of 15 feet or less.
Plant medium trees (under 40 feet when mature) at least 25 feet away from power lines.
Keep shrubs at least 10 ft. away from transformer doors and 4 ft. away from the sides.

Call 811 before you dig

If any of your projects require digging – such as holes for plants, or setting posts – remember to dial 811 first to locate underground utilities.
They will mark lines so you can safely dig and avoid turning your spring project into a disaster.

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