PSC Chairman Lane’s Column: Electricity’s shocking truth

A dear friend of mine is fond of telling the story about the day he learned about electricity. Lots of us are curious, perhaps overly so, of this mysteriously powerful force that flows through wires and then lights and heats and cools our homes, cooks our food, and powers so many things we rely on.

My friend thought sneaking up on a smiley-faced outlet in his home and poking a fork into it would be a smashing idea. And so it proved. He was blown – literally – back and I like to imagine his hair curled with little wisps of smoke.

All of us here at the Public Service Commission want to remind you not to mess with electricity. It is a life-giving force, but it is also extremely dangerous when used wrongly.

My friend was very young when he suffered a mild shock and learned a lesson. It is a lesson I hope most people will take to heart without getting a shock or burn. Or having something more serious happen. Electricity is not something ever to be played with. If you see an open outlet, don’t try to fix it.

If you are outside and see a dangling power line, or goodness forbid, one that is sparking, don’t try to tackle that problem yourself. Call the power company or call 911. They are the professionals. You are not, and we don’t want you to try.

All sorts of potentially dangerous situations exist where electric power is concerned. Don’t be one of the people who are hurt or – worse – who become statistics. We always need your help whenever you see something you know is not right. Please call for help.

Electricity is a powerful tool for good, and when handled correctly it makes our lives so much easier. But it also must be respected as the force of nature that it is. Don’t be like my friend. If you need repairs, put down the fork and call an electrician.

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