How to prepare for winter

Keep your electric meters clear and safe for your rural electric cooperative

Winter weather is waiting around the corner and that means a chance of heavy snow or ice. Please help your local rural electric cooperative by keeping your electric meter easily accessible and free from snow, ice or debris. Your technicians may need to access your meter from time to time to service or inspect it, and in some cases, to read it, depending on the type of meter.

Accumulated ice and snow not only make it difficult for utility crews to access meters, but the added weight can also strain them. Snow and ice buildup can also be dangerous since it could cause a gas leak.

Clearing meters

Heavy snow and icicles are not a meter’s friend.

After you have finished shoveling or snow-blowing your driveway and sidewalk, take a broom or use your hands to gently brush the snow from your electric and gas meters. If there is thick ice on your meter that will not easily come off with a brush or your hands, call your local electric cooperative. Please do not try to kick off the ice or chisel it with a snow shovel or sharp object since this could damage the meter.

Other meter safety/utility equipment tips include:

• Do not cover meters or pipes with shoveled or blown snow.
• Carefully remove overhead icicles from eaves and gutters so that dripping water does not freeze, fall on or damage meters or pipes.
• Do not use a shovel or a sharp object to remove snow and ice from meters.
• Do not kick your gas meter, as this can cause damage that could cause a gas leak.
• Do not kick your electric meter, as this could cause damage.
• Keeping gas meters and vents clear allows for proper ventilation and can prevent deadly carbon monoxide buildup in your home.
• Never try to remove ice from an overhead power line.
• If there is a downed power line, do not approach it or try to move it; instead, stay away and call 9-1-1 or your local electric cooperative to report it.
• Be aware that snow, ice and standing water can cover downed power lines.
• Pave the way in a clear path to your meter.

Thank you in advance for keeping your meters clear and accessible. To learn other electrical safety tips, visit SafeElectricity.org.