Table of Contents
Have Fun, Stay Safe
Let an Electric Lawnmower Power Your Yard
Understanding the "Ups and Downs" of Electricity Use
Clear the Way!
We Battle Winter Storms To Keep Your Lights On
Protect Your Investment & Stop The Surge
Electricity - From Us To You
Call Before You Dig
Landscaping? Be Power-Wise When You Plant
A Downed Wire Is A Dangerous Wire
Help Our Lineworkers Keep The Power On
Light Your Way To Savings
Bulb Labels Light Your Way To Savings
A Dangerous Combination
Don't Let Your Old Refrigerator Guzzle Electricity
Use Care With Extension Cords
Compare and Save On Electric Appliances
HAVE FUN, STAY SAFE
For kids, the neighborhoods of our hometown are full of adventures. But some places should never be part of an adventure.
Overhead power lines, substations, and other electrical equipment should never be seen as part of the neighborhood playground. Children should never climb utility poles or trees that are growing into power lines.
Remind your children to keep out of substations and away from utility equipment. Call us if a kite, ball, or other toy is in power lines or utility facilities.
We are working to keep you and your children safe.
LET AN ELECTRIC LAWNMOWER POWER YOUR YARD
As you prepare for another season of yard work, are you in the market for a new walk-behind lawnmower?
If so, you may wish to consider purchasing an electric lawnmower. In just the past few years, many homeowners have discovered an alternative on the lawn-care market: the electric lawnmower. Available in cordless and corded models, electric mowers have a number of advantages over traditional gasoline powered push mowers. Homeowners that have used electric lawnmowers have discovered that they're easy to start, quieter, and cost only a few dollars annually to operate. Maintenance is simple, too - no spark plugs, oil, gas, or tune-ups are necessary.
Electric lawnmowers make about half the noise of conventional mowers, and start with the touch of a button. (No more pull starts!) And cordless, rechargeable mowers have enough power to mow up to half an acre on a single charge. That means that 75% of all yards mowed with walk-behind gas mowers could be mowed with a cordless electric model instead.
Electric lawnmowers are available at many hardware stores.
UNDERSTANDING THE "UPS AND DOWNS"
OF ELECTRICITY USE
You may find that your cost of electricity varies with each bill. Many factors determine your level of energy use from month to month.
Have you been on vacation? If so, you've used the lights and appliances in your home less than usual.
Or maybe you've had houseguests? That can mean more lights on, or more water to heat, bigger and more elaborate meals to cook, and perhaps more laundry than usual, too.
And, of course, changes in the weather can result in higher costs for home heating and cooling.
It's likely that a big increase in your bill is only temporary.
CLEAR THE WAY!
Guard dogs, bushes, fences and locked doors; all these can be obstacles to our meter readers. When we visit your home, can we get to your utility meters?
It is important that our meter reader can reach your meters so that we can determine your energy use. Keep in mind that if you can't get to your meter, neither can we.
Please trim bushes in front of your meters and make arraingements, if necessary, for a meter reader to have access to your meter. Barriers can be hazardous, as well as inconvenient.
WE BATTLE WINTER STORMS TO KEEP YOUR LIGHTS ON
Here at Orrville Utilities, every season brings a different challenge to the reliable service you've come to expect from us.
In the winter, snow and ice collecting on trees and wires can interfere with your electric service. It can cause tree limbs to snap and fall on power lines. Help us prevent outages - tell us about trees growing near power lines, so that we can trim them before a storm occurs.
In the event that power does go out due to a winter storm, rest assured that our crews will work hard to restore your power as soon as possible.
We work very hard to provide reliable electricity to you every season.
PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT & STOP THE SURGE
DVD players, answering machines, personal computers, fax machines and many other electronic gadgets have become household necessities - and investments. However, they are particularly susceptible to power surges, which are momentary increases in voltage. Lightning, even striking far from your home, may cause strong surges, despite the protections built into our utility system. Surges can also result from other factors inside or outside your home.
Delicate electronic components can be destroyed by large surges. The cheapest way to protect equipment is to unplug it, especially during storms or power outages. However, this can be inconvenient -- or impossible, if you are not at home.
A more reliable protection is a surge protector, which plugs into an outlet, shielding items plugged into it. Surge protectors absorb stray voltage, preventing it from reaching electronic devices.
ELECTRICITY - FROM US TO YOU
You probably take electricity for granted. You plug into an outlet or flip a switch, and there it is, but that electricity had a complex journey before it reached you.
The trip began at the power plant, where electricity was created from another source of energy. Many sources can be employed to generate electricity: fossil fuels, wind, water and solar energy; and nuclear power. From the plant, electricity was routed at high voltage over transmission lines to your neighborhood. Power arrived at a substation where the voltage was reduced before being delivered over smaller distribution lines to your home and local businesses.
Although electricity has a complex journey, it is a rapid one, as electricity must be used almost as soon as it is created. We keep power flowing through this complex network, so that you can continue to take your electricity for granted.
CALL BEFORE YOU DIG
Planning yard work this summer? Before you do, remember that utility services of all sorts are often provided by underground lines.
Damaging or disturbing underground utilities can cause power outages in your neighborhood. Worse, you could be seriously hurt.
Call us if you plan to dig - no matter how deeply - on your property. We'll help you avoid underground utility surprises.
LANDSCAPING? BE POWER - WISE WHEN YOU PLANT!
Planning a new look for your yard? If so, please consider the location of utility equipment before you start planting:
• Leave enough space around electrical equipment to allow for easy access for service.
• Don't plant trees that will grow into power lines. Select a site away from wires, or trees that will grow no more than 20 feet tall.
• Make sure your meter will be accessible to our meter readers.
A DOWNED WIRE IS A DANGEROUS WIRE
Baseball, picnics and swimming pools
are all part of the hot and hazy days of summer. Unfortunately, so are
thunderstorms and the damaged power lines they sometimes bring with them
when high winds blow tree limbs into wires.
We at your hometown utility are committed to protecting you from the
hazards that downed power lines present. Call us immediately to report
downed wires at 330-684-5140.
Keep your summer fun and safe by following these simple rules.
•
Assume
any downed wires are "live", and avoid them completely.
•
Keep
children and pets away from downed power lines.
•
If a power line hits
your car, stay in the vehicle unless it catches fire. If your car catches
fire, jump clear without touching the car and ground at the same time.If
someone is touching a power line, don't try to rescue him or her. Trying
to pull a shock victim away could shock you, too. Instead, call for emergency
help.
HELP OUR LINEWORKERS KEEP THE POWER ON
Want to help your hometown
utility lineworkers keep your power on?
Don't put announcements and other notices on utility poles. Posters and
other notices stapled or nailed to utility poles make a lineworker's
job even more difficult and dangerous. Staples and nails damage protective
clothing worn to prevent injury. Boots and clothing can get caught on
nails and staples, causing falls that can lead to serious injury.
Keeping utility poles clean helps our utility lineworkers stay safe and
helps to ensure reliable electric service to you.GO FLY A KITE...SAFELYKite
flying can be a great way to pass the time on a windy day. But be sure
to follow these tips to be safe, not sorry:
•
Use only dry string, not
wire, to hold your kite together
•
Never fly your kite in wet or stormy
weather.
•
Fly your kite only in open fields, away from power lines.
•
Call us if your kite gets caught in a power line. Never try to remove
it yourself.
LIGHT YOUR WAY TO SAVINGS
Did you know that more than 10% of your average
monthly electric bill pays for lighting your home? You can lower your
lighting costs just by changing light bulbs.
Replace standard incadescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, which
use 75% less energy. (That means that for every dollar you spend on lighting
now, you'll save $0.75).
Although they do cost more than incandescents, compact fluorescents last
up to 10 times longer. And switching just one can save electricity costs
of $30-$55 over the life of the bulb, more than enough to pay for the
bulb.
Most compact fluorescents come with screw bases that fit into any light
socket. You can use them in lamps, ceiling fixtures and outdoor lights
without changing the shade or cover.
BULB LABELS LIGHT YOUR WAY TO SAVINGS
Not
all light bulbs are created equally, but now, thanks to a new law, you'll
be able to select the most energy-efficient bulbs for your lighting needs.
Light bulb packages must identify information on light output , listed
in lumens, as well as energy use, listed in watts. Labels also include
instructions on how to use this information: "To save energy costs,
find the bulb with the light output you need, then choose the one with
the lowest watts".
Information about the expected life of the bulb is also provided. Most
energy-efficient bulbs cost more to purchase, but last much longer. This
means you'll save on bulb repacement costs, while saving energy, too.
A
DANGEROUS COMBINATION
Water and Electricity are necessary for everyday
life. Both are safe when used correctly. But when electricity and water
come together, danger can arise. In the bathroom, kitchen, or outdoors,
it
is important to use electrical appliances with caution.
Keep appliances away from sinks or tubs where they might fall in, and
never let cords run through water. If an appliance does fall in water,
unplug it -- don't grab it.
Don't immerse appliances in water to clean them. Unplug portable appliances
before cleaning with a damp cloth.
DON'T LET YOUR OLD REFRIGERATOR
GUZZLE
ELECTRICITY
Your refrigerator is probably a significant
part of your home electric bill, but there are some things you can do
to save money on
your food storage costs:
• Make sure your refrigerator doors seal tightly, and open them only
for brief periods.
•
If the refrigerator is near the stove or dishwasher, move it to a cooler
location.
• If you have a second refrigerator in the garage or basement, see if
you can get by without it.
• Keep the refrigerator full, but don't overcrowd it. You can fill empty
space with ice or water containers.You might also consider a new refrigerator.
Today's refrigerators use much less electricity that those made 10 or
20 years ago.
USE CARE WITH EXTENSION CORDS
Extension cords are convenient,
but just as with any other electrical device, it's important to use them
with caution. Follow these safety rules when you use extension cords:
• Examine cords for signs of damage, such as cracking or peeling insulation.
• Never hide extension cords under rugs or furniture.
• Never install extension cords with nails or staples.
•Never overload an extension cord.
• Use extension cords that are listed by a recognized independent organization,
such as Underwriters Laboratories.Remember that extension cords are designed
for temporary use. A licensed electrician can install a new outlet if
you need a permanent solution.
COMPARE AND SAVE ON ELECTRIC APPLIANCES
If
you're thinking about buying a new appliance, consider the cost of operation,
as well as the purchase price. Often, less expensive appliances are also
less energy efficient, and that can cost you more in the long run.
Before selecting an appliance, compare the yellow ENERGYGUIDE labels
on each model. ENERGYGUIDE labels list the estimated annual energy cost
of the appliance. Over the life of the appliance, you may find that the
energy savings of a more efficient model will outweigh the additional
cost.
ENERGYGUIDE labels appear on all new furnaces, air conditioners, washing
machines and dryers, water heaters, refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers,
and heat pumps.
