Copper Theft Can Have Deadly Consequences in Substations

Lenoir, North Carolina (August 31, 2010) – If most people encounter an electric utility substation with warning signs that read “DANGER -- KEEP OUT,” their first inclination is to think “safety first” and walk in the opposite direction.

However, some people are gambling with their safety and their very lives by trespassing in substations or other electric plant facilities in the pursuit of copper. There have been cases where thieves have been hurt or killed when attempting to break in and take cooper from electric substations.

Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation reminds the public of the following tips to ensure safety:

• If you see any unusual activity in or around substations, towers, utility poles, storage sites and other electric utility property, report it to your local electric cooperative or law enforcement agency immediately.
  
  
• No one should ever climb substation fences, utility poles or towers. People should also stay away from substations and transformers. Activity like this is hazardous and can result in severe injury and even death. Only trained, professional line technicians and utility workers should ever be in or around a substation, power poles and lines, or other electric facilities.
  

Blue Ridge Electric provides electricity to some 73,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Wilkes, Avery and Alexander counties.