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NORTHWESTERN ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.
February 2016 Staying safe in a car accident involving a power pole
orthwestern Electric strives to educate our members and the public about the dangers of downed power lines and what you should do if you encounter a downed line. But have you ever thought about what you should do if you slide off the road and hit a power pole? Winter wonderlands are beautiful, but they can be a driving nightmare. Snow, slush, ice, and wind make it stressful and difficult to drive. These driving conditions also make it more likely that your car will skid off the road. Losing control of your car may seem like the worst case scenario, but if you don’t know what you are doing, the moments following an accident could potentially be more dangerous than the accident itself. Cars that slide off the road may slide straight into a power pole. The pole may fall down, lines may fall on your car or nearby, and the area around your car may become charged with electric energy. If you stepped out of the car in this scenario, your
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body would become the path to ground for the electricity, and you could be electro- cuted.
While downed lines can sometimes show they are live by arcing and spark- ing with electricity, this is not always the case. Power lines do not always show signs that they are live but are just as lethal.
Stay in the car if you are in a car accident with a power pole. Warn those who try to come near your car to help that they must stay far away. Call 911 for help, and wait until a professional from the electric utility tells you it is safe to leave the car. (8069001)
The exception to this rule is if your car is on fire. In that case, jump clear of the vehicle without touching it and the ground at the same time. Then hop away with feet together. This way there will not be a voltage difference between your two feet, which would
Photo courtesy of
SafeElectricity.org
give electricity the chance to flow through your body.
If you witness a car collision with a power pole, do not approach the ac- cident. By trying to help, you will put your own life at risk. The best thing to do is contact emergency responders and stay far away from the accident. Power lines may be difficult to see if they are covered in snow or ice, so be cautious if you must be out driving after a winter storm. For more infor- mation visit
SafeElectricity.org.
Why you should attend your district meeting I
t’s that time of year again—dis- trict meeting time! On behalf of Northwestern Electric, we’d like to personally invite the members residing in districts two, four and six to join us at their district meetings. We look forward to gathering with you to catch up, hear what you have to say and enjoy some good food and fellowship. The meetings are not only a chance to visit with members of our co-op community—it’s also a great oppor- tunity to learn about programs offered by Northwestern Electric and get to know your co-op staff. Our district meetings makes it possible for us to gather feedback from you by provid- ing a forum where you can let us know how we can better serve you and your family.
At the meetings, you will learn more about the issues affecting our lo- cal communities. It’s also an oppor- tunity for you to exercise one of the greatest benefits of being a member of
an electric co-op, by voting for your board of directors representative. Northwestern Electric is not owned by far away investors, and it is not run by an appointed board of directors. We are run by a democratically elected board of directors—a board who is given the privilege to serve because of your vote.
Our directors are members of your community. They are concerned with the issues you face every day because they face them too.
Having a voice in who makes the major decisions that directly affect your life and your family is a right we all share as Americans. We all vote for our state and federal Congressional representatives, but not every Ameri- can has the right to vote for those who will represent community interests within their electric utility. You have that right, so why not exercise it? Rest assured, no matter what hap- pens, we remain dedicated to provid-
ing you with safe, reliable and afford- able electric service, but we encourage you to take part in helping us improve how we deliver that service. So make it a point to join us at your district meeting. We promise we will make it worth your while!
Important dates District 2 Meeting
Meal at 6 p.m. - Meeting at 6:30 p.m. NWEC’s Medallion Room
Meal at 6 p.m. - Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sharon United Methodist Church
Meal at 6 p.m. - Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Quinlan Methodist Church
District 6 Meeting Monday, Feb. 22, 2016
District 4 Meeting Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016
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