Toronto Hydro wants you to be aware of the dangers of powerlines

Utility releases new video with tips on how to stay safe for Powerline Safety Week

TORONTO, May 17, 2016 /CNW/ - Powerlines can be dangerous – even if they don't look like it. It's sometimes easy to forget that all live overhead and underground wires are carrying electricity through a path that can cause extreme harm — or sometimes death. 

During Powerline Safety Week, taking place May 16 to 22, we're reminding customers of the potential dangers of electrical equipment around their home. To do this, we've created a new animated video to help spread the word about powerline safety: https://youtu.be/ESRMkXKwvnA.

This video continues the story of Sara and José, who we first introduced in our emergency preparedness video.  Tips in the video include how to stay safe when doing work around the house, such as cleaning gutters or trimming trees.

For more powerline and other electrical safety tips, visit torontohydro.com/safety.

QUICK FACTS

• There are more than 15,000 kilometres of overhead wires and approximately 13,000 kilometres of underground wires in Toronto
• If you see a downed powerline, stay back the length of a school bus, or 10 metres, and call 9-1-1 immediately
• Call or click before you dig! Toronto has underground wires in some areas, so residents should contact Ontario One Call at 1-800-400-2255 to mark underground electrical equipment before starting any landscaping projects
• Residents planning to do construction or renovations to their homes should install overhead line covers as a precaution

QUOTES

"Coming in contact with a powerline can be deadly.  With the weather warming up, more people are spending time outdoors, working around the house and in spaces where overhead or underground lines are present.  We want everyone to be aware of their surroundings and stay safe this summer." -       Tori Gass, Media Relations Specialist, Toronto Hydro

ABOUT TORONTO HYDRO

Toronto Hydro owns and operates an electricity distribution system, which delivers electricity to approximately 757,000 customers located in the city of Toronto. It is the largest municipal electricity distribution company in Canada and distributes approximately 18% of the electricity consumed in the province of Ontario.

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SOURCE Toronto Hydro Corporation

Video with caption: "Toronto Hydro has released a new animated powerline safety video to help customers stay safe this summer". Video available at: https://youtu.be/ESRMkXKwvnA

Tori Gass, Communications and Public Relations, 416-903-4037, [email protected]; 24-hours media line: 416-903-6845, [email protected]