News Releases

Kansas City, MO – August 28, 2024 - Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer, and many people have outdoor plans on the agenda to celebrate.

Whether you are celebrating with picnics or taking advantage of the long weekend for yardwork, Evergy reminds people to enjoy their outdoor plans safely, especially around electricity.

Here are steps to take to keep your family and friends safe this Labor Day weekend.

• When hosting a party, keep guests away from power lines or electrical transformers near your home.
• Stay clear of utility pad mounted electrical equipment, which serves underground lines and carries high voltages of electricity. Never touch, sit on or place objects on the equipment.
• Use extension cords specifically designed for outdoor use. Inspect them for frays or other damage before using them.
• When doing yardwork, call 811 before you dig to find out where power lines and other utilities are before you start any digging project.
• Stay clear of downed power lines. Assume that any downed line is energized and stay at least 30 feet from them. Downed lines can be reported online at  http://www.evergy.com/powerlinesafety.

If you are celebrating near water, follow these steps when it comes to water and electricity.

• Do not spray water on power lines and electrical equipment or structures. A stream of water hitting a power line can create a path for electricity.
• Keep electrical devices away from water.
• Never touch electrical devices when wet.
• Install waterproof covers and ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) on your outdoor outlets.

Evergy offers a variety of important safety information and resources here: https://www.evergy.com/community/safety/electrical-safety.