SaskPower is reminding customers to keep electrical and gas safety in mind as the snow melts.
Weather and precipitation forecasts indicate flooding will likely be a problem in parts of the province this spring, according to spokesman Tyler Hopson.
The utility offers the following advice in preparing for a flood:
Disconnect all outdoor electrical devices that are in danger of being submerged and turn off breakers to outdoor plugs.
Hire a Saskatchewan licensed gas contractor to move gas appliances that might become submerged.
Unplug electrical appliances and turn off breakers in the basement if water is entering your property, but never enter an area if electrical receptacles are under water or stand in water to operate breakers. Call SaskPower at 310-2220.
Shut off the electrical and gas supply to all natural gas and propane appliances. If water is entering your property and you are unable to shut off your gas service, call SaskEnergy at 1-888-700-0427.
Never use appliances (gas ranges or barbecues) that are not certified for heating as a temporary heat source because they can create carbon monoxide poisoning. Never use unvented natural gas, propane or other fuel-burning heaters in occupied buildings.
When using pumps, lights and tools near water, use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to protect from electrical shock.
Call SaskPower at 310-2220 to disconnect power during emergencies - crews are available 24/7/365.
"Always stay away from fallen power lines, especially during a flood," Hopson advises. "Water conducts electricity and electrocution in water can be fatal. Electrocution is the second most common cause of death during floods after drowning."
He adds that even a your property isn't flooded, power may be turned off for safety reasons. SaskPower must cut power to any area that has experienced flooding to minimize the risk of electrical shock or electrocution.
"Cutting power to a flooded area ensures our electrical equipment that may be under water is not a safety threat to the public and our employees who arrive on scene," Hopson explains.
"This allows us to restore power safely, and as quickly as possible. Cutting power also protects our electrical equipment from water damage, which would delay our power restoration efforts. For more information on how we respond to power trouble, see the Finding and Fixing Outages section on our website."
