young girl launching kite with parents cheering her on in the background

For at least the last 15 years, I have paid my bills online. And I can say, pretty much without exception, I have never had a problem with any of it (unless I somehow missed a payment!) Because of that, I never knew what I was missing until I had some actual bills coming to my home from both our water and electricity providers. I am going to get around to switching to online bill pay, but life has been hectic of late, so it’s still on the list! 

Are You Reading Your Inserts?

Imagine my surprise when I received my bills via snail mail and found lots of little content-rich inserts, which I actually read! Just in case I have piqued your interest, the latest one I received from Tucson Electric Power was all about being mindful of our outdoor environment. 

Safety First!

These all made so much sense to me, and I hope they do to you too. So, heads up as you work and play outdoors! 

  1. Stay at least 10 feet away from power lines.
  2. Watch for hidden power lines when trimming trees (which we have been doing around here!)
  3. Avoid using ladders, pool skimmers, and other long tools near power lines. GREAT advice and totally something we should all be mindful of. 
  4. Keep electrical equipment away from the water.
  5. Teach kids to never fly kites, drones, or climb trees near power lines. Given the fact that I have an almost 3-year-old granddaughter who is a MAJOR climber, this was a good one for me.
  6. Call 811 before you dig so underground utility lines can be marked. Who knew? I didn’t have a clue. 

The final message in my content-rich little TEP insert also made perfectly good sense: if you see a downed power line, stay away and call 911 immediately! As we all know, coming into contact with power lines may cause serious injury or death. So, stay away and stay alive!

Gina Murphy-DarlingFrom about the age of five, Gina has been on the path of being a disruptor for good. A dreamer at heart, Gina is madly and passionately in love with this great planet of ours and is tireless in her efforts to preserve it.