Pacific Power offers fall safety tips for your yard and the surrounding area around your home

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) – As the leaves change color, fall weather arrives across the Pacific Northwest. The chill in the air and the falling leaves remind us to take a moment to check the condition of your yard and address maintenance issues around your home, Pacific Power reminds us.

“Fall is a good time to check the condition of your trees and a good opportunity to prune them before they become a problem once storms begin,” said Jeremy Gee, vice president of health and safety for Pacific Power. “Winter storms that bring down tree branches are a common cause of power outages. Check your property for trees or branches that could damage power lines if they fall. Taking some preventative measures could save you from additional hassle and inconvenience related to power outages down the road.”

Be careful when pruning trees. Do not use cutting tools or ladders near power lines. Always keep yourself and everything you touch at least 3 meters away from overhead power lines. Never attempt to remove a tree branch that is tangled or over a power line. Instead, call Pacific Power at

1-888-221-7070. We'll be happy to remove it for you.

Some additional fall safety tips:

• Handle all electrical wiring with care.
• Use only wooden and fiberglass ladders. Metal ladders conduct electricity.
• When installing, removing, cleaning or repairing gutters, be aware of and stay away from overhead electrical lines.
• Never use electrical equipment or tools near a pool or other wet areas such as puddles. Also make sure that the sockets are equipped with a residual current circuit breaker that automatically switches off if the tool comes into contact with water.
• Plant trees and shrubs away from meters, electrical panels and box transformers. Vegetation blocking electrical equipment makes repairs and maintenance difficult and sometimes dangerous for utility workers.
• Get help installing or adjusting a satellite dish or antenna. Make sure you work at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines.
• Underground power lines are just as dangerous as overhead lines. If your project involves digging, make sure the locations of underground power lines are marked. Call 811 to have underground utilities located and marked free of charge.

For more safety tips or to order free safety materials from Pacific Power, call toll free at 800-375-7085 or visit PacificPower.net/Safety.

About Pacific Power

Pacific Power provides safe, reliable electricity to more than 800,000 customers in Oregon, Washington and California. The company supplies customers with electricity from a diverse portfolio of power plants, including hydroelectric, natural gas, coal, wind, geothermal and solar. Pacific Power is part of PacifiCorp, one of the lowest-cost generators in the United States with 2 million customers in six western states. For more information, visit PacificPower.net.