• A downed power line may still be an energized power line.
• Never touch or go near a downed power line.
• Don’t touch anything that may be touching a downed wire, such as a car.
• Keep children and pets away.
• Call North Star Electric Cooperative’s outage reporting line at 888-668-8243 to report downed power lines.

If you are in a vehicle accident involving a utility pole or power line:

• Call 911 immediately.
• Do not exit your vehicle. Power poles carry high, potentially fatal levels of electricity. If you are in an accident with one, your whole vehicle may be charged with electricity. If you step out, you will become the electricity’s path to the ground and could be killed by an electric shock.
• The only circumstance when you should exit the vehicle is if it is on fire. If you must exit the vehicle, jump clear of it with your feet together, and continue to “bunny hop” with your feet together so that you will not have different strengths of electric current running from one foot to another.

If you encounter a vehicle accident involving a utility pole or power line:

• Call 911 immediately.
• Don’t touch any passenger who may be in contact with a power line.
• Don’t touch anything that is in contact with the vehicle.
• Don’t attempt to move power lines or utility poles.
• If passengers must exit the vehicle, jump clear of it without touching the vehicle and ground at the same time. Land with feet together and shuffle away.
• Don’t rely on rubber boots, raincoats, rubber gloves or wire cutters for protection.

Any time you or an electrician does wiring or other electrical work at your home or business, remember that Minnesota State law requires a state wiring inspector to conduct a proper inspection of the work.

‍The state of Minnesota has high wiring standards, which are in the best interest of you and your family. Improper wiring can damage your property and equipment and injure or kill the people you love.

Gopher State One Call notifies the appropriate utilities to locate (at no cost to you) utility-owned buried electric cable, fiber optic, TV cable, telephone lines and gas lines on your property. You can be held responsible for damages if you do not call Gopher State One Call in advance.

‍At least 48 hours before you begin a project that requires digging, contact Gopher State One Call. Be sure to have the following information readily available: your name, address, township number, quarter section number, and directions to your property. You can also fill out a form on their website.