Xcel Energy | Tips of the Trade

Working safely after storms

Follow these tips to protect yourself and others from utility hazards when working in storm-damaged areas.

Order our

FREE

worker safety training kit on the Xcel Energy e-SMARTworkers website.

ORDER KIT

Use generators safely

To prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, only use generators outdoors in open areas and at least 20 feet away from doors, windows and vents. If a CO alarm sounds, evacuate the structure and seek fresh air outdoors.

NEVER plug a generator into a wall outlet. Power can energize utility lines, making them unsafe for repair crews and possibly delaying power restoration.

Avoid natural gas hazards

•	Confirm the location of natural gas piping with the property owner before working in or around any structure.
•	Make sure vent lines for dryers, water heaters or other gas-fueled equipment are properly connected and have not been blocked or compromised by floodwaters, storm debris, snow or ice.
•	Do not operate any gas appliance that has been affected by floodwaters until a qualified professional inspects it and any necessary repairs have been made.

Avoid electrical hazards

•	Stay out of flooded basements.

•	Do not touch electrical appliances or equipment if you are wet or standing in water.
•	If you must work in wet conditions, use tools and extension cords that are suitable for outdoor use, and plug them into ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) for shock protection.
•	If you see a sagging or downed power line, always assume it is energized and dangerous. Stay far away from the line and anything it is contacting and report it to 911. Avoid walking and driving through floodwaters, as they may hide fallen power lines.

Disconnect utilities before major repair work

If the job involves demolition or major repairs or renovation to a structure with active electric or gas service, contact Xcel Energy well in advance of starting work to arrange for the utility lines and meters to be properly disconnected. Do NOT start work until Xcel Energy says it is safe to do so.

Would you like to know more?

Additional overhead and digging guidelines, emergency procedures, case studies, instructional videos and training tools can all be found, at no charge to you, on Xcel Energy's e-SMARTworkers website.

Everyone's resources have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. You can help prevent located delays by pre-marking your proposed dig area in white and notifying 811 of your planned excavation with as much lead time as is possible in your state.

To learn more about Xcel Energy’s response to COVID-19, click here.

To reach your state's underground utility locate service/one-call center, call 811 or visit their online site by clicking on your state's name below.

The required “business day” wait time for each state is as follows (excludes weekends and legal holidays):

•	Colorado: 3 days
•	New Mexico : 2 days
•	Texas : 2 days

•	Michigan : 3 days
•	North Dakota : 3 days
•	Wisconsin : 3 days

•	Minnesota : 2 days
•	South Dakota : 2 days
•	Wyoming : 2 days

For more information on worker safety, visit xcelenergy.e-smartworkers.com.

In case of emergency, call 911 and then
Xcel Energy:

Electrical Emergencies: 800-895-1999

Natural Gas Emergencies: 800-895-2999

CO and TX only: Gas Transmission Pipeline

Emergencies: 800-698-7811

Xcel Energy is a founding member of the Gold Shovel Standard, which is a first-of-its-kind, two-part excavation safety program. The program both certifies an excavator's policies and procedures against the Gold Shovel Standard and publishes a score or rating known as an EICO™ score, which is an ongoing measure of an excavator's excavation-safety worthiness. It is a novel and ambitious program on a North American scale to dramatically reduce damages from excavation to buried asset networks. To find out more about the Gold Shovel Standard, please visit goldshovelstandard.org/industry/excavators.

#13313