Electricity Safety: Daily Habits That Put Our Communities at Risk

Electricity powers our homes, brightens our streets, and sustains businesses. But when safety rules are ignored, it can quickly become deadly. Sadly, many lives and properties have been lost due to unsafe practices around electricity. At AEDC, we care deeply about our customers’ safety and must call attention to risky habits that threaten our communities.

Everyday Risks Around Us

Trading under power lines is one of the most common dangers. High-tension wires can sag, snap or spark without warning, and being too close can be fatal. The safe distance is at least 5.5 meters, roughly the height of a streetlight.

Tampering with stay wires and electricity poles is another unsafe practice. People often lean on them, tie animals, or use them for drying clothes. This weakens the structure and, in some cases, exposes people to live current. The rule is clear: keep at least 2 meters away, about the length of a car, and never enclose poles within compounds, as this also prevents essential maintenance.

Carrying out activities near transformers are equally dangerous. Cooking, trading, urinating or even loitering around them puts lives at risk. Transformers generate heat and, in case of a fault, may spark or explode. Always keep a minimum clearance of 5 meters, about the width of 2 cars.

Simple Rules That Save Lives

• Maintain a safe distance from power lines, poles, stay wires and transformers.
• Report damaged poles, sagging wires or unsafe activities to AEDC immediately.
• Teach children never to play around electrical structures.
• Do not enclose electricity poles or obstruct AEDC staff during maintenance.

Your Safety, Our Priority

If you see damaged poles, sagging wires, unsafe trading, or any other hazardous activity around electricity, please contact AEDC immediately through our helpline at 0803 907 0070.

No business or property is worth more than a human life. Electricity is safe when respected but deadly when misused. Let us work together to build safer communities where people live, work and thrive without fear of avoidable accidents.

Stay safe, stay alive, and always put safety first around electricity.