Skip to main content

Start or Transfer Service

Home
Menu

 To report an outage please call 1-800-794-1989 or use the SmartHub mobile app. To talk to a person, press zero. To view our outage updates click here.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Board of Trustees
    • Cooperative Leadership
    • Powering Fort Leavenworth
    • Cooperative Transparency
    • About Touchstone Energy
  • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Media Inquiries
    • Submit Feedback
    • New Construction
    • Ask Matt
    • What is my district?
  • Member Services
    • Apply for Service
    • Payment Options
      • Understanding Your Bill
      • Payment Assistance
      • Pay Cash
      • Pay Now!
    • Capital Credits
    • Your Service
      • Security Options
      • Tree-Trimming
      • High Bill Concern
    • Member Programs
      • 101 Ways To Save
      • Attic Report Card
      • Medical Necessity Notification
      • Time of Use
    • Charges and Fees
    • Member Guide
    • Rebates
  • Outage Center
    • Outage Map
    • Preparing For Planned Outages
    • Social Feeds
    • Storm Updates
  • Communications
    • Connect With Us!
    • Energy Solutions Articles
    • Kansas Country Living
    • The Signal
  • Community Development
    • Co-op's Vote
    • CoBank Sharing Success
    • Local Sponsorships
    • Operation Round-Up
    • Youth Programs
    • FreeState Business Directory
  • Safety
    • Agriculture Safety
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Generator Safety
    • Meter Access
    • Power Line Safety
    • Prepare for Winter Outages
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Ten Tips To Avoid Scams
  • Co-op FAQ
    • Ask FreeState
  • SmartHub Mobile
    • Using SmartHub
  • Annual Meeting
    • 2023 Candidate Videos
    • 2023 Trustee Candidates
    • Annual Report
    • Voting for Trustees
  • Crew at the Zoo
  • ESC Adjustment
  • Solar/EVs
    • All About EVs
    • Renewable Energy
    • Register Your Ride

Power Line Safety

You are here

  1. Safety
  2. Power Line Safety

Everyone must be aware of the electrical hazards associated with overhead and underground power lines. Farm equipment is getting larger which makes knowing your clearances even more important. Power systems are designed and constructed using vertical and horizontal clearances that allow for public and worker safety.

It is the member's responsibility to contact FreeState Electric Cooperative to determine the safe clearance. 

Electricity always tries to move toward the ground through the easiest path. It can jump or arc to equipment. Observing safe limits will protect you from fire, severe shock, or electrocution.

To help prevent a contact include the power system in your purchasing of equipment and the planning of the work to be done:

  1. Know what work is to be completed
  2. Know the size and type of equipment to be used
  3. Know the location of the power system
  4. Maintain a safe distance from the power system

Working Close to Overhead Power Systems
The single most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to:

  • Verify the height of your load before you begin to move/work. If you are moving an over height load on public roads, you will need to investigate our requirements. Contact the operations department to do this. 
  • Note the location of overhead lines, even if you will just be moving equipment around the farm. Line heights can vary depending on the weather and age of the lines. 
  • Know that vegetation near power lines may also be hazards.
  • Piling of material (bales, dirt, gravel, etc) should not be located under power lines, which will reduce the clearances.
  • Please contact FreeState if you have any questions. 

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MEASURE THE EXISTING POWER LINES
 

Steps to safely dig:
Whether you are planning to plant a new tree, put in fencing, or add a deck, have all underground lines located before you start.  Contact the locator at least two business days before digging. 

Call 811 before you dig.

Take the time to determine the location of all underground electrical lines. Excavating near power poles can be dangerous. Although buried electrical lines are insulated, contact with a sharp shovel or equipment could easily damage the protective covering and expose you to harmful electrical current. The number and depth of cables will vary. Use extreme caution.

Do not disturb the soil near the base of a pole.

power line safety
Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Legal Info

Contact Info

McLouth Office
507 N. Union
PO Box 70
McLouth, KS 66054

Topeka Office
1100 SW Auburn Rd. 
Topeka, KS 66615

Toll-Free:800-794-1989

EMAIL US!

 

About Us

With 14,974 members and 20,551 service points FreeState Electric Cooperative is the largest rural electric cooperative in Eastern Kansas and the fifth largest rural electric cooperative in the state of Kansas. FreeState serves nine Kansas counties and provides distribution infrastructure to Fort Leavenworth. 

Follow Us Online

©2023 FreeState Electric Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Board of Trustees
    • Cooperative Leadership
    • Powering Fort Leavenworth
    • Cooperative Transparency
    • About Touchstone Energy
  • Contact Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • Media Inquiries
    • Submit Feedback
    • New Construction
    • Ask Matt
    • What is my district?
  • Member Services
    • Apply for Service
    • Payment Options
      • Understanding Your Bill
      • Payment Assistance
      • Pay Cash
      • Pay Now!
    • Capital Credits
    • Your Service
      • Security Options
      • Tree-Trimming
      • High Bill Concern
    • Member Programs
      • 101 Ways To Save
      • Attic Report Card
      • Medical Necessity Notification
      • Time of Use
    • Charges and Fees
    • Member Guide
    • Rebates
  • Outage Center
    • Outage Map
    • Preparing For Planned Outages
    • Social Feeds
    • Storm Updates
  • Communications
    • Connect With Us!
    • Energy Solutions Articles
    • Kansas Country Living
    • The Signal
  • Community Development
    • Co-op's Vote
    • CoBank Sharing Success
    • Local Sponsorships
    • Operation Round-Up
    • Youth Programs
    • FreeState Business Directory
  • Safety
    • Agriculture Safety
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Generator Safety
    • Meter Access
    • Power Line Safety
    • Prepare for Winter Outages
    • Safety Checklist
    • Safety Demonstrations
    • Ten Tips To Avoid Scams
  • Co-op FAQ
    • Ask FreeState
  • SmartHub Mobile
    • Using SmartHub
  • Annual Meeting
    • 2023 Candidate Videos
    • 2023 Trustee Candidates
    • Annual Report
    • Voting for Trustees
  • Crew at the Zoo
  • ESC Adjustment
  • Solar/EVs
    • All About EVs
    • Renewable Energy
    • Register Your Ride