Energy Safety While our technical service people are experts at safely delivering your energy, using energy safely is your responsibility.


Stay Clear, Stay Alive Kit Electrical contact is a leading cause of injury and death in the U.S. construction industry. Our free kit will help your employees learn to avoid the 10-foot danger zone around power lines. The kit includes:

• Contractor Electrical Awareness video
• 25 copies of the brochure, Electrical Safety for Contractors and Homeowners

To order, please complete our order form.

Tree Trimming Trees enhance the quality of life in every community by converting carbon dioxide to oxygen and keeping the air clean. However, diseased and/or weakened trees, along with trees planted and growing near power lines, can contribute to power outages when they come in contact with overhead electric lines. National Grid’s goal is to ensure everyone’s safety and deliver reliable energy.

• Important Information about Trees and Your Electric Service (New England) (pdf)
• Important Information about Trees and Your Electric Service (New York) (pdf)
• Avoid Tree & Utility Line Conflicts (pdf)
• Fact Sheet on the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Long-Horned Beetle (pdf)

Electric Safety

• Overhead power lines are not insulated, and carry enough energy to cause serious injury or even death. Regard all wires as live.
• Keep yourself, your co-workers, friends, family and vehicles at least 10 feet away from residential electric lines and equipment.
• Stay alert. Keep ladders at least 10 feet away from power lines when carrying, moving, and raising them.
• Keep away from wires when working with tools, pipe, lumber or siding—all of which can conduct electricity.
• Make sure the area is clear of wires before working near trees or shrubs.
• Never attach or tie anything off to power lines or electrical equipment.

To further ensure your safety, consider all lines "energized" and put an effective ground on all equipment working near overhead electric lines.

Generators Please review these safety tips before installing or using a generator:

• Have a licensed electrician install your generator.
• Before you operate a generator, make sure your wiring system is disconnected from our system by ensuring that the main circuit breaker in your electric service panel box is in the OFF position or, in older electric service panel boxes, that the main fuse block is removed. This prevents your generator's electricity from going back into the power lines in the street, which could endanger line crews and your neighbors.
• For permanent installations, a double throw switch will allow you to safely disconnect from our system and connect your generator. It must be rated for its intended use according to the NEC and listed by a Nationally Recognized Test Laboratory.
• Make sure your generator is properly ventilated to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. Never install a generator inside a house or building. If your generator is located in a garage or outside building, check to be sure it is properly ventilated.

Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless and virtually impossible to detect. Common sources of carbon monoxide in the home include malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances such as hot-air furnaces, space heaters and natural gas ranges. We will respond without delay to carbon monoxide-related calls from all natural gas customers within our service area—even if you purchase natural gas from an alternative gas marketer. If you use a fuel other than natural gas, please contact your respective fuel supplier. Other sources are woodstoves, charcoal grills, motor vehicle engines, fireplaces and even burning cigarettes.

Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning The symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu. A person may experience headaches, dizziness, weakness, sleepiness, nausea, confusion, tightness of the chest, fluttering of the heart, redness of the skin and loss of muscle control. If you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning, immediately go outside and breathe deeply. If symptoms are severe, get medical attention immediately.

Protect Your Family

• Before the heating season begins, have your heating system checked by a licensed professional heating contractor.
• Check chimneys or flues for debris, birds' nests or other blockage.
• Be sure all space heaters and woodstoves are in good condition and used in strict compliance with the manufacturer's instructions, with adequate ventilation and plenty of fresh air.
• Never use a gas range for heating. Also, never burn coal or charcoal in an enclosed space.
• Never leave a car idling in a closed garage.
• Consider installing a carbon-monoxide detector to monitor the air for high levels of carbon monoxide. Be sure the detector you buy is "UL LISTED."
• When adding a coal- or wood-burning stove, be sure it is professionally installed and vented.
• Never block or seal shut vents and exhaust ducts of appliances such as water heaters, ranges and clothes dryers.

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