Call Before You Dig
Many home and business improvements may include digging in the yard for a number of reasons ranging from construction projects to gardening. Remember to call before you dig. Iowa One Call has made it easy with their 8-1-1 number or you can simply dial (800) 292-8989.
If you choose to file the ticket online, that is easy as well using the Iowa One Call website. These numbers are answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Remember to plan ahead as the request for locates needs to be called in 48 hours ahead of time during normal business hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
What to Do in an Outage
If you think your service address is experiencing an outage, it is important to make sure you let us know. If it is a widespread outage, we may already know about it and you could get an automated message when you call us at (712) 580-5800. Please know that we work as quickly and safely as possible to get the power restored in a timely manner.
Swimming Pool Safety
During the summer months, when the weather is warm here in Northwest Iowa, it is easy to think about the benefits of adding a swimming pool to your yard as they are becoming easier to purchase through local retailers. SMU recommends referring to the National Electric Safety Code before installation for guidelines on where to place them in regards to electrical and communication lines that may be underground or overhead in the area.
Grain Bin Safety
Our #1 priority is providing you with safe and reliable electric service. At work or at play, stay safe outdoors when electricity is around. Here, some tips:
- Keep clear of power lines.
- When working beneath power lines, use wooden or fiberglass ladders instead of metal.
- Never place a ladder where it can fall into a power line.
- When carrying ladders, augers, or other tools, look up to make sure contact with overhead lines is avoided.
- Never try to move an electric line.
- Don’t attempt to raise or move power lines. Call your utility for assistance.
- If you see a downed power line, call the utility immediately. Don’t go near it.
- Check out your equipment.
- Keep all electrical appliances a safe distance away from water.
- Power tools should be properly grounded. Use only heavy duty extension cords rated specifically for outdoor use.
- Outdoor electrical outlets should have ground-fault circuit intern protection and have weatherproof covers.
- If you are driving a tractor or other vehicle that comes in contact with an electric line …
- Try to back away from the line.
- If you are unable to back away, stay put!
- Have someone call your local utility to de-energize the line.
- If you must leave the tractor, jump clear, putting both feet forward at once, and avoid any contact with the ground and the vehicle at the same time.
Building a Grain Bin
Thinking about building a grain bin? If you’re planning to build or move a grain bin, either on your property or for someone else, you need to be familiar with Iowa’s law on required distances from overhead electric lines. This law was put in place to provide protection from the hazard of contacting overhead electric lines to anyone working around grain bins with augers, elevators, or other equipment.
The drawings below show the specific clearance requirements related to permanently installed augers and portable augers. There must be at least 18 feet between the top of any grain bin and any overhead electric lines. These distances were developed by the American National Standards Institute. Figure 232.4(b) can be found in the 2017 Edition National Electrical Safety Code (NESC).
As your electric service provider, we’re responsible for ensuring that these specifications are met. In fact, in any situation where minimum clearance requirements are not observed, the utility may refuse electric service. So if a new grain bin is on your list of projects, please give us a call. We will work with you in developing a site plan for your project.
Grain Bin Clearance Guidelines
Source: The 2017 Edition National Electrical Safety Code (NESC), and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI C2-2017).
Figure 234-4(a) – Clearance Envelope for Grain Bins Filled by Permanently Installed Augers, Conveyors, or Elevators
P = probe clearance 5.5m (18 ft.)
H = horizontal clearance 4.6m (15 ft.) transition clearance
T = transition clearance
VJ = vertical clearance above a building required by Rule 234C (Table 234-1)
V2 = vertical clearance above land required by Rule 2328 (Table 232-1 or 232-2)
Figures 234-4(b) – Clearance Envelope for Grain Bins Filled by Portable Augers, Conveyors, or Elevators
