When looking at damaged poles and line, how can I tell the difference between downed telephone, cable television and electrical lines? How can I tell if standing water with wires in it is electrified?

You can’t! Con­sid­er all cables and wires ener­gized, whether elec­tri­cal, cable tele­vi­sion or tele­phone. After a storm any wire can be ener­gized if it falls or gets wrapped around an ener­gized line, whether a few feet or a block away. If a line is in water, there is even more rea­son to be cau­tious. Con­sid­er it and the water ener­gized. Learn more with our elec­tri­cal safe­ty videos.