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Caring about ospreys
Caring about the environment also means working to improve it.
In this case, it means creating “homes” for ospreys — magnificent, fish-eating raptors with wingspans of five to six feet.
These birds, sometimes confused for bald eagles, don’t choose to nest just anywhere. Sometimes they select the top of a PPL
Electric Utilities power-line pole or tower. That comes with some risk, since they must coexist with high-voltage power lines.
There are very few natural nesting locations suitable for these “fish hawks,” so they tend to nest on manmade structures. Providing
good nesting areas away from power lines also helps us reduce the risk of power outages.
Working with groups like the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, we’re providing nesting platforms in attractive locations — near water — so the osprey can survive and thrive. Three
platforms went up last year, and more are on tap for 2017.
Helping ospreys flourish and working to eliminate power-line contacts by larger birds benefits the environment, and it also helps us
keep delivering safe, reliable power for you. To view a video of an osprey platform installation, visit youtube.com/pplelectric.
? Ask Meg
Q
A
I recently bought a portable electric generator and my neighbor told me to be careful
not to send power back onto the power lines when I use it. What is he talking about?
Whether you have a permanent standby unit or a portable model, be sure you operate
it in a way that prevents electricity produced by the generator from going back into
the power line that feeds your home. This is called back feed and it can be dangerous,
especially for crews working to restore power. More at: pplelectric.com/safety
Have a question for our energy expert? Email us at [email protected]
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APRIL 2017
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Don’t risk underground trouble
Call 811 before you dig
Planning to dig? Placing an 811 call at least three business days beforehand
is the key to starting out safely. And it’s the law in Pennsylvania.
Calling 811 applies whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner.
The call triggers notifications to utilities, including PPL, to mark their
underground lines.
Hitting underground power lines can have deadly consequences. Make the
call and know what’s below. pplelectric.com/safety.
Employee snapshot
Name: Dana Ferber
Job: Regional Operations Director
for Lancaster/Harrisburg region
Volunteer Work: STEM Sisters, a program run
by the North Museum of Nature
and Science in Lancaster.
“Mentoring is important to me. I felt like I’ve had an impact on these students.
News you can use
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Sharing information about how to use electricity more efficiently and more safely is
something we love to do.
If you’re involved with a newsletter that serves your community, homeowners’
association or other group, contact us at [email protected]. Let’s discuss how
PPL Electric Utilities can provide material for your publication on a regular basis.
24/7 CUSTOMER SERVICE
for emergencies, outages and payment
assistance. 7 am to 10 pm for all other issues.
If you think teenagers aren’t into energy
efficiency, then you haven’t met the kids involved
in our Think! Energy Innovation energy efficiency
program.
Four teams of high school students recently
placed on top in our Innovation Challenge, which
had them explore innovative ways to make a
difference in energy or water efficiency.
Three of the teams hailed from the Hazleton Area
Academy of Sciences in Drums, Luzerne County.
The fourth was from Western Wayne High School
in Lake Ariel, Wayne County.
Check out all the information on the Innovation
Challenge at stories.pplelectric.com.
Don't be fooled
The more exposed you are to mentoring and making professional contacts,
the more intelligent decisions you can make about your future.”
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