Safety is of the utmost importance for linemen who work on power lines. They can work on the lines while they are energized, or “hot,” but they must wear proper protection and take special precautions while doing the work. If the line is out, or “dead,” then they must make sure the line is dead first and properly grounded.

One item that can be very dangerous to the lineman is an emergency or backup generator owned and operated by one of our customers. If the generator is running and is not installed correctly with the proper switching device, it can generate power back on our power lines and, in effect, re-energize a dead line to the high voltage level it normally delivers.

This could injure or kill a person working on the line, even if it is grounded. If you have installed a generator or plan to do so, please be sure the generator has a double-throw switch that separates the generator from our power source. If the switch is installed correctly, whether it operates manually or automatical-ly, it will isolate the connection to our lines when the generator pro-vides power to your service.

There were many generators installed in 1999 in anticipation of a major power outage caused by computer failure in 2000. Of course the power failure never happened, but the generators are still out there.

If you have any specific questions about the installation of generators, please contact your electrician, call us at (229) 268-2671, or e-mail us at mgemc@sowega.net.

P.O. Box 190, Vienna, GA 31092
912.268.2671