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Valley Rural Energy Services: Learn More About VRES  
Toll-free: 800-432-0680 | Pay-by-phone: 855-922-3147
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

HIC Number PA130865

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Stay safe while spending time outdoors

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Thursday | June 1, 2023
All News

June 1, 2023

As temperatures increase and sunny days abound, it is easy to be footloose and fancy free. As you spend more time outdoors, keep these safety tips in mind to have a great summer.

Pools and hot tubs

Before opening your pool or hot tub for the season, ensure there is ground fault circuit interrupter protection on underwater lighting circuits, as well as for lighting and outlets around pools, hot tubs, and spas. Have your pool's electrical system inspected. Faulty wiring can cause swimmers to experience electric shock drowning.

Swimming Pool Safety: If you are in the water and feel electric current, swim away from anything that could be energized. Do NOT use a metal ladder to exit the pool.

Boating and swimming

When boating or swimming, know that faulty wiring can cause the water to become energized. Never go swimming near boats plugged into shore power or near docks with an electrical source. Energized water can cause electric shock drowning.

During a storm

Lightning forking downward from clouds toward trees According to the National Lightning Safety Council, approximately 440 people are struck and killed by lightning each year.* Nearly two-thirds of the deaths occurred while enjoying outdoor leisure activities — 33% of the fatalities occurred during water-related activities such as boating, spending time on the beach, and swimming, while 14% happened during sporting activities such as fishing, soccer and running.

When angry clouds roll in, take them seriously. Have a weather app installed on your phone to inform you of weather alerts. Lightning can occur up to 10 miles away from the heart of the storm, so if you hear thunder, take cover. A watch means that conditions are likely for severe weather to develop; a warning means take action.

While playing

A man flying a small drone near overhead power lines When flying drones, remote-controlled planes, toys, or kites, fly them in a wide-open area free from overhead power lines. If a toy or object gets stuck in an overhead power line, do not try to remove it. Instead, call your electric utility, and a crew will address the issue safely.

Ensure that overhead power lines do not run through or over a tree before your child starts to climb. Select trees that are in a wide-open space without overhead power lines nearby.

If kids are playing with a ball or other item that goes inside a substation fence, teach them to never touch or climb the fence to attempt to retrieve the item. Instead, call your electric utility to safely take care of it. The same precaution applies to a pet or animal inside the fenced area of a substation.

Releasing balloons

A bunch of balloons caught in overhead power lines Although not an outdoor recreational activity per se, be careful with metallic balloons. If they are released (intentionally or accidentally) and get caught in a power line or other utility equipment, they can cause a major power outage. Additionally, be careful during a balloon release regardless of the type of balloon. Be sure to release balloons in wide-open areas far from overhead power and airports. And never touch the string of a balloon or kite caught in power lines or other electrical equipment.

For additional electrical safety tips, visit SafeElectricity.org.

* Analysis of lightning-related deaths in the U.S., 2006–2021

Article and images courtesy of SafeElectricity.org.

Items of Interest

We Make Safety a Priority. Valley REC. Proud member of Safe Electricity® since 2017.

Valley Rural Energy Services offered by Valley Rural Electric Cooperative
HIC Number PA130865

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THANKS FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE, MOM. The one card that does it all. Connections.coop - A mother helping her young son with his bicycle.

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Main Address

Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

10700 Fairgrounds Road

PO Box 477

Huntingdon, PA 16652-0477

 

Phone Numbers

Telephone: 814-643-2650

Toll-free: 800-432-0680

Pay-by-phone: 855-922-3147

Fax: 814-643-1678

 

Office Hours

Monday - Thursday

7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

 

HIC Number PA130865

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The Touchstone Energy® name and logo design, the Co-op Connections® name,
the tagline "The One Card That Does It All®," and the tagline "The Power of Human Connections®"
are federally registered trademarks and may not be used without permission.

NISC, SmartHub, and the SmartHub Logo are registered trademarks of National Information Solutions Cooperative, Inc. (NISC) in the U.S. and other countries.

Safe Electricity® is a registered trademark of the Energy Education Council.

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©2025 Valley Rural Electric Cooperative. Your Touchstone Energy Cooperative.

  • Home
  • Billing Info
    • View & Pay Bill
    • Residential Bill
    • Payment Options
    • SmartHub Overview
      • SmartHub for the Web
      • SmartHub for iOS
      • SmartHub for Android
    • Disconnection Policy
    • Rates
    • FAQs About Rates
    • Fees
    • Definitions
      • Purchased Power Adjustment
  • Member Info
    • The Cooperative Difference
    • Bylaws and Forms
    • Annual Report
    • Capital Credits
    • Directors and Districts
    • Member Meetings
    • Recent Posts
    • Penn Lines
    • Valley News
    • Scam Alerts
  • Programs & Services
    • Valley Rural Energy Services
      • Generator Sales and Installation
      • Generator Transfer Switches
      • Whole Home Surge Protection
      • Electrical Service Work
      • Water Heater Sales
      • Water Heater Rebates
      • Home Energy Audits
      • LED Light Bulbs
    • Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)
    • Community Service Grant Program
    • Co-op Connections Program
    • Demand Response
      • Demand Response Details
    • Educational Programs
    • For Kids
    • Golf Outing
    • Members Helping Members
    • Scholarships - Brighter Future
      • 2024 Recipients
      • 2023 Recipients
      • 2022 Recipients
      • 2021 Recipients
      • 2020 Recipients
      • 2019 Recipients
      • 2018 Recipients
      • 2017 Recipients
      • 2016 Recipients
      • 2015 Recipients
      • 2014 Recipients
      • 2013 Recipients
      • 2012 Recipients
      • 2011 Recipients
      • 2010 Recipients
    • Youth Tour
  • Safety
    • Indoor Safety
    • Reporting an Outage
    • Storm Center
    • Safety Quiz
    • Safe Electricity
  • Save Energy
    • Electric Shift
    • Energy Calculators
  • About Us
    • Contact Info
    • Offices and Hours
    • Service Territory
    • Job Openings
    • Legal Information
    • About Touchstone Energy Cooperatives
    • Cooperative Principles
    • Off-site Links
    • Site Map