| Member News |
Watch Out for Dangers Around Power Lines
Immediately Report Downed or
Sagging Lines to the Co-op.
Flathead electric creates a dispatch report to record information about
where and why linemen are called out to
respond to situations
requiring a lineman's expertise. One of the most recent dispatch
reports was initiated by a law enforcement agency stating that
there was a line down and a child was playing nearby. Law
enforcement officials and Flathead Electric work closely to
secure dangerous situations like this and thankfully, this
effective partnership protects members of our Co-op. In this
situation, the child was safe and the lines down were phone and
cable, but we take all reports seriously and we will dispatch a
lineman immediately if you call us
It is critical for parents to teach their kids to stay away from any downed or sagging lines. Assume the line is energized and don't assume it is phone or cable. If you don't think it can happen to you, thing again. In May, a fatal contact with an overhead 14.4 Kilovolt line occurred in a rural area of Montana. According to authorities at the scene, a 28 year old male was walking through the countryside with a female companion and a child when they encountered a low hanging phase. The male victim apparently touched the energized conductor, which killed him instantly. Later investigation found that the insulator on a nearby utility pole had been shot, allowing the line to come off the structure and hang low to the ground. Measurements taken after the incident indicated a height of six foot seven inches at the point of contact.
Unfortunate tragedies like this can and should be avoided if we treat electricity with the respect it deserves. Please use caution and stay away from downed or low hanging power lines. Report electric equipment vandalism and anything you may think is dangerous immediately to Flathead Electric Cooperative.
May
2006
Roundup for Safety
Report
Applications Received
& Approved:
Families in Partnership
Car Seats $2,450.00
Deer Park
Elementary School
Library Safety
Repairs $4,800.00
North Valley
Senior Center
TV and Cart for Senior
Drivers Safety
Classes $1,448.00
Heritage Museum
Handicap
Access $4,000.00
2 Applications Pending
Roundup For Safety is a voluntary program for FEC members.
Participating members allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the next dollar, with the extra money going into a fund for community safety projects.
Applications from non - profit groups are considered each month by a board of directors representing each Co-op district.
For information and application forms, call 751-4483 in Kalispell and 293-7122 in Libby.
