An abundance of snow this winter and more in the forecast
prompts reminders about snow removal, piling of snow and melting icicle
information from Wisconsin Public Service and Xcel Energy.
Customers choosing to clear roofs from snow using
shovels or rakes should be extremely cautious working near power lines. Xcel
Energy suggests staying more than 10 feet away from power lines when removing
snow from roofs.
Electric and natural gas meters covered with heavy
snow should be cleared by hand or broom. Use of shovels, rakes and other tools
can damage the equipment.
Radiant heat from the sun can melt snow even at
below freezing temperatures. It is important to remove icicles that grow too
long to prevent dripping water from refreezing on meters. Large icicles that
break off could cause damage to the meter creating a safety hazard or loss of
gas service.
Xcel Energy says a gas meter covered in snow or ice
can also cause a natural gas leak.
“I had no idea that I even needed to check my meters
for snow or ice buildup. It is scary to think that it can happen so easily and
can quickly lead to really dangerous situations,” says La Crosse resident
Brandon Forcier.
Customers who notice ice on the meter or are
concerned that the meter's regulator vent may be blocked should call their
local energy company for assistance. There is no charge to call Xcel Energy for
these types of situations.
Xcel Energy reminds customers to always maintain a
clean pathway to the gas and electric meters in case of an emergency or routine
maintenance check. The city of La Crosse mandates owners must clear public
sidewalks in front of their houses within 24 hours of snowfall. During these times,
home or business owners can make it a habit to clear a safe pathway and check
on meters as well.
“I can look out at my neighbors and very easily
notice no one, including myself, has a clear path to the meters. I suppose no
one really thinks about clearing a path in their yard,” admits Forcier.
Renters should check with landlords to determine
whose responsibility it is to clear and maintain meters and pathways. The utility will send an average bill if a
meter isn’t visible, and the full amount could come due at move out and provide
an unpleasant surprise, after a winter as cold as this one.
Public or private snowplowing services should use
caution when moving snow near utility services and meters. This is primarily
important for meters near businesses. Plowing heavy snow onto meters could
cause damage resulting in loss of service.
Snow piles should not be piled high enough to be in
close proximity to overhead power lines.
In the event of an emergency Xcel Energy customers
can call the provided 24-hour emergency contacts. For an electric
emergency/power outage call 1-800-895-1999 and for a gas emergency/gas leak
call 1-800-895-2999.
For additional cold weather tips regarding heat,
carbon monoxide, vents and meters, visit http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/home/coldweathertips.
