Safety

Safety is a key factor for the City of Medicine Hat Electric Utility. Here are some safety aspects for you to consider.

Padmount Transformers
What are those green electrical boxes found in yards or back alleys? To the Electric Utility these boxes are known as Padmount Transformers. Padmount transformers lower the voltage of the electricity from distribution levels to the 120/240-volt level used in homes. They are located in the Utility-Right-of-Way in underground services areas. If you have one on your property, contact the Electric Department about landscaping and fencing around transformers. You can reach us via e-mail at electric_dept@medicinehat.ca or telephone at 403.529.8257. While the transformers are safe on the property, follow the safety signs on the transformer and keep curious children away.

Summer's Here - Let's Go Fly a Kite !
To enjoy your summer filled with kite flying days, please observe the following:

DO fly kites in clear sunny weather, not storms.
DO make your kite from paper, wood, plastic, nylon or fabric, making sure there are no metal parts on your kite.
DO NOT climb a power pole or tree to get a kite tangled in overhead power lines.
DO call the Electric Department at 403.529.8260 during normal working hours or 403.526.2828 after hours, to take down a kite that is touching a power line.
DO check wind direction before flying your kite to avoid hazards; keep control of your kite by using a reasonable length of string.
DO have fun flying your kite safely!

Electrical Storms
The lazy, hazy, hot days of summer provide the right atmosphere for sudden thunder and lightning storms. Lightning is a form of static electricity and like other forms of electricity, lightning looks for a path to the ground. It will use the best conductor available, including water, a tree, a kite string, or a person.

Electricity always tries to get to the ground. It follows the shortest and easiest path it can. Metal materials such as copper and aluminum, things that are wet and anything with water in it, including people and wood, are good conductors of electricity. Tree sap, with its high water content, is an excellent conductor of electricity.

Listed are some safe practices to ensure your safety during electrical storms:

stay indoors
stay away from open doors and windows, metal pipes, sinks and plug-in electrical appliances
do not take laundry off the clothesline
do not work on fences, telephone lines, power lines, pipelines or metal buildings
do not use metal objects, such as fishing rods and golf clubs. Golfers wearing metal cleat shoes are particularly good lightning rods
stop tractor work, especially when the tractor is pulling metal equipment and get off the tractor
get out of the water and off small boats
stay in the car if you are traveling. Automobiles offer excellent lightning protection
when there is no shelter, avoid the highest object in the area. If only isolated trees are nearby, the best protection is to crouch in the open, keeping twice as far away from isolated trees as the trees are high
avoid hilltops, open spaces, wire fences, metal clotheslines, and any high objects which may conduct electricity

Disclaimer
The City of Medicine Hat provides the information found on this site for informational purposes only. The user or viewer of the information assumes all risk for the use of this site.

Send general comments to: electric_dept@medicinehat.ca