Hunter's Safety Guide to Electrical and Fiber Equipment
Our cooperative is made up of 56,000+ members who rely on the safety and upkeep of our grid. Power lines and utility poles are the foundation of how we all enjoy the comforts, convenience and the power of reliable electricity and quality internet. We need your help to keep the electric lines and our new broadband fiber safe during this hunting season.
The glass tubes in the broadband fiber line are fragile. If hit by shotgun shot, all 144 strands of fiber can break, and each individual strand requires special splicing repair. Because broadband is so new to fields and farm lanes in our rural community on the Eastern Shore, many hunters have not had to worry about this concern in the past. But we now have many miles of overhead fiber optic cable that is easily damaged by a stray shotgun blast. When broadband lines are shot, homes along that path lose access to the internet until a repair can be made. Not only are the homes at risk, but several local 911 services lease our fiber for emergency communications. If the broken line is located over a field of crops, getting in before harvest is difficult. And, by law, the cost of the repair is borne by the landowner or the hunter who damaged the line. The average repair runs $15,000 to $20,000.
We want to protect you from that expense and protect everyone who needs the electricity and internet service on our lines. We know the majority of hunters practice safe hunting and they understand the potential hazards when discharging a firearm. We encourage these experienced hunters who are familiar with the area to help identify locations of electrical equipment to the younger, less experienced, hunters and gun enthusiasts. Tampering or misuse of our fiber and electric lines can not only put yourself in danger but will also affect all other members that are down-line.
Basic Electrical Hunter Safety Rules to Follow
- Be aware and take note of your surroundings.
- Do not shoot at or near power lines, fiber lines or electrical equipment.
- Familiarize yourself with the location of power lines and equipment on land where you shoot/hunt.
- Do not shoot at, or near, birds perching on utility lines. That goes for any type of firearm, including pistols, rifles or shotguns.
- Take notice of warning signs and keep clear of electrical equipment.
- Keep a safe distance from power lines and electrical equipment when hunting. Accidents can be easily avoided if you do so.
- Damage to the conductor can happen, possibly dropping a phase on the ground. If it’s dry and the electricity goes to ground, there is the possibility of electrocution and fire.
- Be especially careful in wooded areas where power lines may not be as visible.
- Never use utility poles or towers to support equipment used in your shooting activity.
- Never climb poles or place deer stands on utility poles. Energized lines and equipment on the poles can conduct electricity to anyone who comes in contact with them, causing shock or electrocution.
- Do not place decoys or any other hunting/shooting equipment on power lines or other utility equipment. Anything attached to a pole besides utility equipment can pose an obstruction, and a serious hazard, to electric cooperative employees as they perform utility operations.
