National Grid Urges Upstate New York Customers to Work and Play Safely Around Utility Equipment This Summer

UPSTATE NEW YORK (06/14/2012)(readMedia)-- The summer means barbeque, the beach, vacation and outdoor projects. With safety in mind, National Grid wants to make sure everyone enjoys the warm weather and keeps safety in mind when working or playing around electric and natural gas equipment and during summer storms.

"Safety and reliability are first and foremost on the minds of our employees each and every day," said Ken Daly, President of National Grid, New York. "If we keep a few simple safety tips in mind we can enjoy the summer months in upstate New York without injury. Looking before you climb a ladder, or calling before you begin a digging project are a couple of ways we can stay safe."

Stay Safe Near Power Lines

Steps to be prepared and stay safe this summer include:

• Maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet around power lines common to local streets and neighborhoods. Transmission or high-voltage lines require an even greater clearance.

• Remember that overhead wires usually are bare or only weather-protected and can carry extremely high voltages. It's safest to assume that all overhead wires are live electric wires.

• Avoid touching power lines with any part of your body or with a ladder. Metal parts and moisture conduct electricity, so don't use an aluminum ladder or a damp wooden ladder within 10 feet of power lines. Before erecting a ladder, ensure it will not come into contact with any power lines. Always carry ladders horizontally to keep them from tangling with power lines.

• Kites, model airplanes and other toys should be flown only in open spaces, far from any trees and power lines. If a toy gets tangled in a power line, the safest thing to do is leave it there and call National Grid at 1-800-867-5222 in Upstate New York.

Call Before You Dig

National Grid supports Dig Safely New York and their public education programs targeting consumers and construction and landscape contractors who dig near gas and electric lines. Dig Safely New York operates the "811" call number for anyone planning a digging project, and works with the proper organizations to have lines marked before digging.

Anyone planning a project or work that requires digging or excavation should contact Dig Safely New York office at least two full days prior to any construction or excavation work. In Upstate New York, contact Dig Safely New York at either 811 or 1-800-962-7962. For more information, please visit http://www.digsafelynewyork.com/.

Summer Storm Safety

Summer weather can be unpredictable, especially when warm, unstable air brings about sudden and severe thunderstorms. Planning ahead can help everyone stay safe before, during and after a storm.

• Learn about your local community's emergency warning system for severe storms.

• Pick a safe place in your home for household members to gather during severe storms. This should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail. Make a list of items to bring inside in the event of a severe storm.

• Make trees and shrubbery more wind-resistant by keeping them trimmed and removing damaged branches.

• Get trained in first aid and learn how to respond to emergencies.

• Put together an emergency preparedness kit (visit www.redcrossneny.org for a free tip sheet to help you build your kit)

• Postpone outdoor activities if thunderstorms are likely to occur. Many people struck by lightning are not in the area where rain is occurring.

• After storms have passed, help people who may require special assistance, such as infants, children and the elderly or disabled.

• Stay away from downed power lines and report them immediately.

• Watch your animals closely. Keep them under your direct control.

National Grid

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'.

In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com

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