Clear Access to Utility Equipment

Written by Dan McVey, Vice President & Chief Operating Officer – Gas Operations

It is common for people to hide utility equipment when they are landscaping their home. You have likely seen someone try to disguise a meter or plant around a utility box to camouflage it. When focusing on the curb appeal of your home, it is easy to forget that utility companies need access to this equipment. At The Energy Cooperative, we work hard to provide our members with safe and reliable energy. To help maintain this level of service, we ask that you keep in mind a few landscaping tips. • Always contact OHIO811 before you dig. • Leave clearance for our employees to work on utility equipment. • Trim shrubs and bushes planted near utility equipment. • Keep utility equipment free from obstructions. Dan McVey

CHECK ON RESTRICTIONS The first call before planting anything near utility equipment should be to the utility company. Contact The Energy Cooperative for the clearance needed for your equipment.

CALL BEFORE DIGGING The next call you make should be to OHIO811. When you make the call, provide information about your planned project. OHIO811 contacts utility companies to mark all underground utilities that could cause a problem when you dig. It can take a few days before someone comes to mark the underground utilities, so plan your project in advance. Do not begin your project until all the utility lines are marked.

LEAVE CLEARANCE Although it’s tempting to landscape next to utility equipment, avoid doing so. The key is allowing room for our employees to safely access it. As a rule, leave at least three feet of clearance on all sides of utility meters and other equipment connected to your home. Keep shrubs and structures at least 10 feet away from any padmount devices. This clearance is necessary for our employees to safely access, maintain, and work on the equipment.

Consider the mature size of any plants you choose when deciding where to plant. The shrubs may not fully cover the equipment right away but could eventually fill in and block access. Even if we do not regularly access your equipment, it should be visible and accessible for our employees.

TRIM REGULARLY Be sure to trim bushes and shrubs regularly if they are near utility equipment. This helps the plants stay healthy and ensures the equipment is accessible for our employees. Landscaping that is too close to utility equipment is in danger of being damaged or removed.

PETS, FENCES, AND GATES If you have a guard dog for security, please contact us, and we will make sure that our employees know. We may ask that you confine animals while we are working on your equipment. If the equipment is located behind a fence or locked gate, please contact us to arrange access.

OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS Make sure that no other objects cover or block access to your utility equipment. Items that often block access include vehicles, trailers, garbage cans and recycling bins, construction equipment or supplies, landscaping or gravel.

EQUIPMENT CLEARANCE NEEDED FOR NORMAL OPERATIONS Meters 3 feet on all sides Riser 3 feet on all sides Padmount equipment 10 feet all sides

LET’S WORK TOGETHER Landscaping can enhance the beauty and enjoyment of your property but please consider your utility equipment as a part of this process. Access to utility equipment is paramount for us to provide safe and reliable energy to your home. It is also a necessary step in ensuring the safety of our employees. If you have questions about specific equipment on your property, please give us a call. You can connect with our member service department by calling 1-800-255-6815. Members can also chat with a member service representative on our website, myenergycoop.com, or through the SmartHub app.