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Make Work Site Safe

​Work Environment Safety Services

We want our customers and partners to stay safe. Please remember to call the local office to coordinate any projects involving poles and wires. 

Maryland

Montgome​ry C​ounty

201 West Gude Drive 
Rockville, MD 20850 
Phone: 301-670-8700 
Fax: 301-670-8718   

Prince ​George’​s County

8300 Old Marlboro Pike 
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 
Phone: 301-967-5800 
Fax: 301-967-5820  

District of Columbia

3400 Benning Rd. NE 
Washington, DC 20019 
Phone: 202-331-6237 
Fax: 202-388-2721

Overhead Wires

We want our customers and partners to stay safe, and we ask that you be careful around electrical wires because they can cause serious injuries or even death. Please do not assume that wires and cables are insulated and harmless.

Regulations

The Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulates how closely work crews who are unqualified to work on electric lines can be to electrical wires. Many states, including DC and MD, have High Voltage Acts that define clearances between energized electrical wires and personnel or work equipment. 

Planning

Let us know when any work activity is near overhead lines or when an excavation is involved. Many situations are unique and must be handled individually. Please contact us at the numbers above to ensure you have covered any related costs and the development of your project goes smoothly.

Underground Facilities

Contact Miss Utility by phone (dial 811) to locate underground facilities. We want to help you abide by the law and avoid incurring a fine for not having underground structures marked, which can lead to damaging them when excavating. Visit Call Before You Dig for more information.

Downed Wires

Downed wires are particularly dangerous because our customers often assume they are not live. Call the emergency service number, 1-877-PEPCO-62 to report downed lines, including burning wires. Call 911 only if there is an associated emergency such as a fire, or automobile accident. 

Planting

For us to deliver reliable electric service, trees should be planted a safe distance from our power lines because many power outages are caused when tree branches fall onto power lines.

Our tree management program includes pruning, storm hardening, and other maintenance issues. The work our licensed, professional foresters and contract tree pruning experts do is for public safety and the safety and health of the trees.

Foreign Attachments

Please do not attach anything to our poles without our prior approval. The attachment of items such as antennas or signs to our poles, wires or facilities is not allowed. We can remove any attachment without notice. 

Antennas on high support structures may be damaged due high winds and lightning. Accidents can be prevented if experienced installers use correct materials, and follow installation recommendations from manufacturers, building codes and National Electric Safety Codes.

Pools and Buildings

Pools and related structures should not be built near any electrical wires or cables. Please contact us at your local Pepco engineering office, using the numbers above, during the planning stages so we can evaluate the location of electrical wires or cables at these structures.

Meter Sockets, Panels and Service Equipment

Before you order circuit breakers and other service equipment, it is important to know the available fault current at a site. Our local engineering office can supply fault currents upon request. To keep your property safe, please do not use sizing fuses or circuit breakers larger than National Electrical Code guidelines. View a list of approved products.

​Pole Safety

In the District of Columbia and Maryland, electricians cannot erect any structure like an underground cable riser or ladder higher than 10 feet high on our poles. No work on our poles at an elevation above 10 feet is permitted. We will perform all work above that 10-foot elevation. Please contact our local Pepco engineering offices using the numbers above to coordinate this work. ​

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