Safety Resources

With the implementation of our AMI (Advanced Metering Infrastructure) metering system, MLEC has revised our procedure for allowing electricians or members to work on any part of live transformer secondaries or meter socket enclosures. MLEC recognizes the safety hazards created by unsealing and removing meters from their meter sockets. Our AMI metering infrastructure allows us to be notified almost instantly when an outage occurs, or a meter is removed.

Electricians or members are required to contact MLEC to schedule the removal of a meter, or the need for the disconnection of service to work within a live meter socket enclosure or for work on transformer secondary wiring. Failure to do so will result in monetary reimbursement equal to the cost of labor and equipment dispatched to the site. Wiring on the secondary side of transformer taps is owned by, and the responsibility of the members.

You can schedule an outage by calling (800) 450-2191, both during and after business hours. If calling during business hours, please ask for Operations.

• Don’t hang birdhouses or basketball hoops on electric poles.
• Don't attach signs or announcements to utility poles. They can cause problems for personnel who climb poles for routine maintenance and repairs.
• Teach kids to play it safe around electricity. Keep kites, balloons, or model airplanes away from electric power lines. Make sure and fly your kite in wide-open spaces far away from power lines. If you get something stuck in a power line, call MLEC to get it.
• Be careful climbing trees, make absolutely sure there are no wires running through branches or touching any other part of the tree.
• Be careful when you install or adjust your roof antenna. Don’t raise a ladder near power lines. Look up first!
• Take extra care when using electric appliances and tools outdoors. Make sure they’re properly grounded and that your work area is dry.
• Don’t landscape or trim trees near power lines. Call us for assistance.
• Test your Ground Fault Circuit interrupters to make sure they are properly working.
• Never run electric cords under rugs or carpets; extension cords are for temporary use.
• Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative reminds you to always assume a fallen or broken power line is alive and dangerous. Promptly report potential problems, such as a broken utility pole, tree branch, or kite across a power line, loose wire dangling from a utility pole, any object touching a power line, or a power line lying on the ground.
• Stay away from power lines, meters, transformers, and electrical boxes.
• Keep a safe distance from overhead power lines when working with ladders or installing objects such as antennas.
• Never touch or go near a downed power line.
• Don’t touch anything that may be touching a downed wire, such as a car.
• Keep children and pets away.

• Never touch appliances or wires with wet hands or feet
• Caution - Look up! Powerlines may be overhead - Never trim trees near overhead lines. A tree branch has high moisture content and can conduct electricity to you if it touches an overhead line.
• Never use an electrical tool or appliance if you are standing in water, on damp ground, or if your hands and feet are wet. It is not worth risking serious electrical shock. Let the job wait until conditions are right.
• If the tool or appliance falls in the water, don’t reach for it. Instead, unplug it from its power source.
• Never use electric trimmers and clippers around water or on wet grass and hedges.

• Sparks or smoke mean trouble. If you see sparks or smoke – Safely unplug and don’t use again.
• If someone has been shocked or burned by electricity, do not touch the person or anything they are touching. You could become part of electricity’s path and be shocked or even killed.
• Turn off the circuit breaker or disconnect the fuse for the main power to the house. Call 911.
• If there is any electrical fire, do not use water. Safely unplug the appliance.
• If the fire is small, use a proper chemical fire extinguisher. If the fire is not small, leave the house.