Down, Danger, Dial: Electrical Safety Tips to Help British Columbians Stay Safe During Storm Season
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BC Hydro Winter Electrical Safety highlights hazards from fallen power lines, high winds, and heavy rain; stay 10 metres back, dial 9-1-1, and follow outage, storm restoration, and emergency responder guidance.
The Big Picture
BC Hydro guidance to prevent winter electrical injuries by avoiding downed lines and calling 9-1-1.
Stay at least 10 metres away from fallen or low-hanging power lines.
Treat every downed line as energized; call 9-1-1 immediately.
Follow outage updates and storm restoration guidance from BC Hydro.
Utilities assess undergrounding to reduce wind and tree-related damage.
Crews coordinate with responders; wire guards and vegetation teams deployed.
Hydro is reminding the public about the hazards of electricity and the importance of staying safe this winter, as utilities work on adapting to climate change impacts across Canada.
Electrical equipment is more prone to damage during the fall and winter months when high winds and heavy rain can cause trees to fall on power lines and knock down power poles, prompting some utilities to assess line-burying strategies for safety and cost. If you come across a fallen power line, assume it is dangerous, stay at least 10 metres back – the length of a school bus – and dial 9-1-1.
Every fallen power line should be treated as an emergency. Safety is a key priority for BC Hydro and if a power line does fall, crews will work with emergency responders to ensure the area around the line is safe. This includes storm restoration efforts from power line technicians, wire guards, damage assessors and vegetation crews, as well as broader system upgrades like major grid investments that improve local reliability.
Such system changes can also affect delivery rates for some customers over time.
BC Hydro is also reminding British Columbians to use caution, stay 10 metres back and dial 9-1-1, if they come across:
- a hanging power line,
- a tree that has fallen on an electrical line,
- a power pole with a broken crossarm,
- a low-hanging power line close to the ground, or
- a power pole leaning more than two metres.
Electrical equipment can be dangerous and people are injured or killed by electricity every year, including incidents tied to copper theft dangers in some regions. For more information on electrical safety, visit bchydro.com/besafe.
Source BC Hydro Media Releations
