Holding the Line (More Power to You blog)
Electricity has to stay safe.
Seems obvious, right? That’s why people remember not to overload plugs. Or to stay away from downed power lines. Or even to be careful putting up Christmas lights.
But when it comes to the grid that brings you that power – well, safety is more than a reminder. It’s a constant. Especially in the summer, when hot, dry conditions can increase the risk of a wildfire.
So what is LPC doing to protect you and keep your power reliable? Here are a few examples: 
- When we see plants or trees near the power lines, we’re trimming them back – a lot. Enough to account for their next five years of growth. (Want to help? If you have a tree on your own property that’s near a line, please have a professional trim it.)
- About 75% of our power lines are underground, safe from branches and high winds. We’re gradually burying the rest of our overhead lines – especially in high-risk areas – and new properties in town typically get an underground line from the start.
- Those LPC trucks you see? They all carry fire extinguishers and rakes to jump on any issues they spot. And in higher-risk areas, they also carry a hose, a pump and a 500-gallon water tank.
- Our electric lines include devices that can quickly detect when something’s fallen onto the line and safely shut off power until we can clear it. We’re also testing new gear, like treatments that make power poles more resistant to fire, along with wildfire cameras that can alert the fire department when they spot smoke.
- Our dedicated maintenance crew constantly works to stay ahead of any issues by spotting and taking care of equipment that needs to be upgraded, repaired or replaced.
- And like everything else in life, a lot comes down to paying attention. We watch local weather conditions (both on the ground and through National Weather Service data) so that our crews and our lines can be ready for emergencies. (Again, you can help by calling 303-651-8386 when you see a line that’s broken or weighed down – but please stay well away from any broken lines!)
It all adds up to a safer community for you, with fewer and shorter outages. After all, we’re your city utility – so it’s always about you.
And that’s the bottom line.
