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Safety Tips for Irrigation Equipment Field crop irrigation equipment today is often large and complex, which requires a high level of management and operating skill on the part of the producer. Modern irrigation systems also introduce a number of safety concerns unlike those experienced with other field equipment. It is vital that irrigators know and follow proper safety precautions to avoid potentially deadly electrical accidents when operating and handling modern irrigation systems. Aluminum irrigation pipe, while lightweight and easy to handle, is an excellent conductor of electricity. It is best to avoid moving irrigation pipe and equipment on windy days, as a sudden gust could lift pipes into overhead power lines. This power line contact could prove fatal to a person holding the pipe. Take some time to survey your surroundings before moving equipment. Look up and around you; note any power lines that could be close enough to come into contact with equipment – and stay away.
• Store unused irrigation pipes far away from power lines or electrical equipment. Keep pipes horizontal to the ground rather than vertical to minimize the risk of contact with power lines. • Position the water jet streams so that there is no chance of them spraying onto power lines – if this happens, the entire system could become energized, creating a danger for anyone nearby. • Stay away from all irrigation equipment during any lightning activity. Install lightning arrestors to protect your equipment from damage caused by lightning strikes. • If fuses continually blow or circuit breakers repeatedly trip, have a professional check the wiring. This could indicate a potential electrical hazard. • Assess the equipment for defective components that may energize devices that are not normally energized (i.e. the equipment enclosure, etc.). • Always shut off and lock the master electrical control switch before servicing the machine. • If you are testing equipment, protect yourself by wearing safety glasses and an arc-rated face shield, wear clothing that will not ignite in an arc-flash scenario (no synthetic clothing, synthetics can melt and stick to the skin increasing the level of injury). Fire resistant clothing is highly recommended.
Take some time to survey your surroundings before moving equipment.
In addition, troubleshooting problems with 480 volt equipment carries an increased electrical hazard. A high percentage of electrical arc flash injuries and fatalities are associated with 480 voltage equipment and components.
To ensure safe operation of irrigation equipment please remember the following tips: • Make sure that irrigation system wiring is properly grounded. Before the start of each irrigation season, have a qualified electrician check the pump and wiring.
JUNE 2016
• Insulating gloves should be worn to protect from electrocution as well as the heat produced by the arc-flash. Please contact Inland Power at (509) 747-7151 to get answers to any additional safety questions you may have.
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SAFETY CORNER Help Inland Power Battle Copper Theft Soaring metal prices have been blamed for an increase in thefts of copper and aluminum, primary components of electric distribution lines. Recent thefts of copper wire and equipment from electric utilities have been responsible for outages, additional maintenance and expenses, diminished service reliability, and, in some cases, serious injury or death. Inland Power urges you to follow the following guidelines to guard against electrical dangers and help prevent copper theft. • Never enter or touch equipment inside a substation; stay away from power lines and anything touching a power line. • If you notice anything unusual with electric facilities, such as an open substation gate, open equipment, or hanging wire, contact Inland Power immediately at (800) 747-7151. • If you see anyone around electric substations or electric facilities other than Inland Power personnel or contractors, call the local police/ sheriff as soon as possible.
Together we can stop copper theft!
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
WE ARE A MEMBER-OWNED ENERGY COOPERATIVE COMMITTED TO SAFE, RELIABLE SERVICE AT COMPETITIVE RATES.
Keep Your Cool This Summer It’s easy to take the conveniences of modern life for granted. Even the occasional startle we received from incandescent bulbs blowing out with a flip of the switch is a thing of the past with LED’s lighting the home. Don’t take the air conditioner for granted. A little timely maintenance is all it takes to be sure you are living the comfortable life all summer long. If you own a heat pump or air conditioner, remember they require annual maintenance. Just like a refrigerator, your heat pump or air conditioner have heat transfer coils that must be kept clean. They also have electrical parts that are prone to wear that can cause a cascade failure leading to a total loss of your investment. Even the newest products are not immune. If your home comfort system is no longer covered by a warranty, it’s time to find a reputable heating and cooling service company to get scheduled for a summer tune up. This is vital to do at least every other year to protect your investment and keep your cool. Inland Power works directly with heating and cooling contractors and we maintain a list of them on our conservation web page under “Certified Dealers.” You will also find a form titled “Questions for HVAC professionals and your home.” This cheat sheet is a full list of the things you should ask your contractor to lengthen the life of your heat pump or air conditioner.
TODD AN D L IN D SE Y, YO U R E N E R G Y E F F IC IE N C Y T E AM
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SCAMMING ALERT Beware of Clever Scams Impacting Inland Power Members Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They are getting more creative and often combine sophisticated technology with age-old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal credit information. Recently, Inland Power has been made aware of a couple scamming attempts in our local region. Please be aware of these scams impacting utilities throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Telephone Scam - A caller pretends they are an Inland Power employee, telling you that your account is past due and that you need to obtain a specific type of debit card that will transfer funds to the scammer. Inland Power will never require you to purchase a debit card for payment. We encourage you to report these calls to law enforcement. Email Phishing Scam - Emails are being sent to members, pretending to be your monthly electronic bill. When you click on the link, the electronic bill asks you for specific account information for payment that will give the scammer’s personal account information. If you currently receive electronic bills from Inland Power and are unsure if an email is legitimate, here are some quick ways to verify the accuracy of the email: • Check the sender. Your electronic bill will always come from Inland Power and not a generic address. • Before clicking on the link to view your bill, hover over the link to be sure
that it is directing you back to Inland Power. • Lastly, do not enter personal payment information if you have not logged into your account securely. Inland Power always requires a secure login/ password to keep your personal information safe and secure. Lastly, while not a scam, a new trend has emerged where third party sites will arrange to make payments on all of your bills. Some of these services even masquerade as being affiliated with Inland Power when they are not. While some bill paying services are legitimate, members that use these should be cautious to pick reputable companies. Often these third party sites charge high service fees and do not make the payment the same day you pay them, which could result in your bill being paid late.
VALUE OF HYDROPOWER IN THE NORTHWEST Hydropower from the Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) is a key economic driver for jobs in the Pacific Northwest. This efficient and renewable resource provides low-cost power without carbon emissions. Hydro provides over 60% of the region’s electrical generation capacity, and it makes up almost 90% of the generation with in the Bonneville Power Administration’s (BPA’s) resource portfolio. As such, it is the primary resource used to serve electricity to the millions of members of publicly 10110 W HALLETT ROAD
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and cooperatively owned utilities in the Pacific Northwest with preference rights to federal power. The hydropower system in the Northwest also provides other key benefits that are part of our economy and way of life. These include provision of critical flood control, irrigation, navigation and recreation. Inland Power is fortunate to receive this clean, efficient source of power. We are one of the greenest utilities and the energy we provide is 87% renewable and 97% carbon free.
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