Additional Safety Faqs

We encourage all members to be aware of electrical equipment while hunting. Keep these safety tips in mind as you enjoy the great outdoors.

• Keep clear of electrical equipment.
• Do not shoot at or near power lines or insulators.
• Know where power lines and equipment are located when you hunt,
• Be vigilant in wooded areas where power lines may not be as visible.
• Never place deer stands on utility poles.
• Never place decoys on power lines or other utility equipment.

Like any other source of electricity, solar panels can pose potential hazards. Keep these safety tips in mind when you're near solar panels.

• Stay at least 10 feet away from the installation.
• Never walk on solar panels.
• Never cut any wiring to the solar panels.
• Never touch broken or damaged solar panels.

Swimmers

•  Never swim near a boat or launching ramp.
• If you feel a tingling sensation while swimming, tell someone and swim back in the direction from which you came.

Boat Owners

• Have a certified marine electrician inspect your boat regularly
• Test GFCIs and ELCIs monthly.
• Use portable GFCIs or shore power cords that are UL - Marine Listed

Source: Electrical Safety Foundation International 

Keep your electronic equipment safe.

A power surge is typically caused by lighting, changes in electrical loads, faulty wiring, or damaged power lines.

Install power strips with surge protection to protect sensitive equipment.

• Easy to use (just plug in)
• Protect electronics plugged into the device
• Must be replaced over time or after a major surge event

Remember: Not all power strips offer surge protection. Carefully read the packaging labels when purchasing.

Never leave a fire unattended and make sure you completely extinguish the fire when you're done. Drench the fire with water and stir the ashes unit cold.

When burning yard waste, follow local ordinances. Avoid burning in windy conditions, and keep a shovel, water, and fire retardant nearby to keep fires in check.

Play it safe when using fueled lanterns, heaters, and stoves. Lighting and heating devices should be cool before refueling. Keep flammable liquids and fuel away from appliances.

Never discard cigarettes, matches, and smoking materials from moving vehicles, or anywhere on park grounds. Completely extinguish cigarettes before disposing of them.

Source; National Geographic

5 Tips for Hiring an Electrician

A licensed electrician can help with a variety of home projects from lighting upgrades to full renovations. Keep the following tips in. mind if you're looking to hire an electrician.

1. Hire a licensed, qualified electrician for the job. Look for a master electrician to manage the projects. Master electricians have the most experience and will often oversee the work of a journey-level electrician or apprentice.
2. Make sure the electrician is insured. Seasoned electricians know the importance of protecting themselves in case of an accident.
3. Read all the reviews: Hire an electrician that has several positive reviews - not just 1 or 2. Read reviews on different sites like Nextdoor, Yelp, and HomeAdvisor, and consider asking your neighbors for recommendations.
4. Determine your budget. Get 2 quotes. Knowing your budget upfront helps move the process along. Prices can greatly vary, so get multiple quotes (at least 2).
5. Talk timeline. Some electricians accidentally overlook projects. If your job is time sensitive, convey that early on and discuss a realistic timeline with the electrician.

Keep Food Safe: When In Doubt, Throw It Out!

Unfortunately, power outages do occur from time to time. It’s important to know how to keep your food safe during an outage. Use these tips from USDA to help minimize food loss and reduce your risk of illness.

Before a power outage:

• Keep refrigerator at 40° or below.
• Freeze items like fresh meat and poultry that you won’t use immediately.
• Keep the freezer set to 0° or below.
• Group frozen foods to help items stay colder longer.
• If you anticipate an extended power outage, buy dry or block ice to keep the fridge and/or freezer cold.

During a power outage:

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed!
• If the doors stay closed during the length of the outage:
  • A full freezer will hold its temperature for 48 hours.
  • A refrigerator will keep food safe for 4 hours.

After a power outage:

• Check the temperature inside your refrigerator and/or freezer.
• If the temperatures are safe, the food should be safe to eat.

Foods that should be thrown out after an extended power outage:

• Meat, poultry or seafood products
• Milk, yogurt, and other dairy products
• Cooked or sliced produce
• Eggs and egg products
• Soft and shredded cheese
• Opened baby formula
• Dough and cooked pasta

Know What's Below

Visit Call Before You Dig is a free service up to Kootenai Electric Cooperative's meter that locates underground wires and lines in Kootenai County. Call the toll-free number, 811, at least 2 business days but no more than 10 business days before digging or excavating and have the following information ready: start date, phone number, type of work, job location, and special marking instructions.

After making this call the locations of underground wires and lines will be marked. This prevents digging equipment from hitting or cutting off power, water, phone, cable, or gas lines. Accidental contact with a line can result in serious injury and possibly death. Damages to these lines can disrupt service to an entire neighborhood and could include fines and repair costs.

Please note: underground lines that extend beyond the meter or are on member-owned equipment may not be located unless you call for a private location. To learn more visit the Idaho Digline or view the Member vs. Kootenai Electric Cooperative Responsibilities information below.