Electric Safety

Electricity always seeks every available path to ground through conductors. Good conductors are:

Metal
Wet wood
Water

Your body is 70% water and is a dangerously good conductor of current. So, if you're grounded and touching an energized bare wire, electricity will pass through you to the ground. An amount of electricity as small as that found in a typical Christmas tree bulb can be fatal. Or, the shock can easily cause serious falls, burns, cuts or internal bleeding.

Indoor electric safety

Never touch an appliance or switch it on or off with wet hands.
Never place electrical equipment where it could fall into water, such as beside a sink or bathtub.
Unplug small appliances and equipment when not in use.
At home, keep electrical cords away from toddlers or pets.
Check all cords periodically to be sure they are in good condition.
Don't use extension cords as a substitute for fixed wiring.
Cover electrical outlets you're not using with plug protectors.
Teach children at an early age about electricity and the importance of practicing electric safety.

Outdoor electric safety

Stay clear of substations and power lines.
While using a hose or sprinkler, don't let water contact overhead wires.
Keep radios, TVs or other electrical appliances away from your swimming pool or hot tub.
Don't fly kites or drones or climb trees near electric lines.
Be sure your outdoor wiring is on a separate circuit of sufficient amperage for your heavy-duty equipment and power tools.
Don't overload extension cords.
Avoid contact with the electrical service entrance to your building when painting or doing other repairs.

Dig Safe!

Damaging a line is not only dangerous, it also will be expensive if you have not contacted Diggers Hotline ahead of time. Call 811 before you dig.

Diggers Hotline

Power Restoration

Learn about MGE's process for restoring power after an outage.

See our process

Outage Safety

Important tips to keep everyone safe during an outage.

Stay safe

Outage Protection

Protect computers and other equipment from power surges.

Follow these steps