Think Safety First As You Work Outside This Fall
homeworks.org /homeworks.org tricoenergy@homeworks.org Portland office/Mail payments to: 7973 E. Grand River Ave. Portland, MI 48875 Open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday
Blanchard office: 3681 Costabella Ave. Blanchard, MI 49310 Open 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Monday–Friday Night deposit box available at both locations. Electric bill/account questions: 517-647-7554 or 1-800-562-8232 Pay by phone, anytime: 1-877-999-3395
Service questions/outages: 517-647-7554 or 1-800-848-9333 (24 hours for emergency calls) Tri-County Propane: 1-877-574-2740
HomeWorks Connect 1-800-668-8413 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
District 1 — John Lord, Vice-Chairman 2276 Plains Rd., Leslie, MI 49251 517-974-2518 • jlord@homeworks.org
District 2 — Jim Stebbins 7139 Peddler Lake Rd., Clarksville, MI 48815 616-693-2449 • jstebbins@homeworks.org District 3 — Luke Pohl, Chairman 15560 W. Hanses Rd., Westphalia, MI 48894 989-292-0427 • lpohl@homeworks.org District 4 — Kimber Hansen 6535 N. Wyman Rd., Edmore, MI 48829 989-506-5849 • khansen@homeworks.org District 5 — Corinna Batora 7655 N. Watson Rd., Elsie, MI 48831 517-256-5233 • cbatora@homeworks.org
District 6 — Ed Oplinger, Secretary-Treasurer 10890 W. Weidman Rd., Weidman, MI 48893 989-644-3079 • eoplinger@homeworks.org District 7 — Shirley Sprague 15563 45th Ave., Barryton, MI 49305 989-382-7535 • ssprague@homeworks.org Editor: C harly Markwart, CCC
4 SEPTEMBER 2020
Chris O’Neill, CEO
T
he ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has most everyone thinking a lot more about safety these days. How to keep our children healthy as they start the school year, how to care for our elderly loved ones safely, and how to maintain social distance as we live and work; these are just some of the considerations that have become a part of our daily lives. Here at HomeWorks, safety has always been our top priority. I’m proud of the way our employees have seamlessly adapted to new working policies and procedures to keep each other and the members we serve safe during this uncertain time. They’ve achieved all of this while not missing a beat in delivering the reliable electric, propane and internet services you count on us to provide. In delivering those services, we know it’s crucial that safety is always top of mind for our employees, as electricity and propane can both turn dangerous and even deadly when not handled properly. But as the pandemic has many of our members spending more time at home and perhaps working on those long put-off DIY projects around the house, I want to offer a reminder that it’s not just electrical workers who need to be aware of the dangers of working near electricity. Whether you’re remodeling around the house or preparing for the fall harvest on your farm, please keep
these important electric safety tips in mind before you begin your work: • ALWAYS look up and be aware of overhead power lines when working outside. Power lines are all around us, and you or your equipment coming into contact with one could be fatal. • Always keep equipment at least 10 feet away (in all directions) from power lines. • Inspect equipment like ladders, extensions and long-handled tools to determine clearance when working near power lines. • Always call 811 three full working days before any project that involves digging to have your underground utility lines marked for free. • If you notice a downed power line or a power line that looks to be sagging or dangerously low, please call us immediately at 800-562-8232. There is a quote that’s displayed on the safety bulletin boards at our HomeWorks facilities that reads, “Working safely might get old, but so do those who practice it.” When it comes to electricity, taking a few minutes to be aware of your surroundings can mean the difference between life and death, so please, look up, be aware, and stay safe!