An improperly installed generator can back feed into your transformer and send high voltage back through the power line. This voltage could be deadly to anyone working to restore your power. Please do not attach anything to utility poles. Signs, posters, fences, basketball hoops or anything else attached to the poles make it unsafe for a lineman to climb the pole. Often, linemen are required to climb poles in adverse weather, attachments on the poles make the job even more unsafe.
Some People are Shocked. . .
Underground power lines and other utilities are common in our area and you really do not know what you might hit when you dig into the ground. One Call, WCEC or other utility personnel will meet with you to locate any underground hazards. The weather in central South Dakota can change in a moment. Your cooperative is ready for these changes but, no matter how well we prepare, we cannot avoid downed power lines caused by storms. Hours of freezing rain can snap a power line without warning.