March 4, 2002
ROSEMEAD, Calif., March 4, 2002-Windy days bring a favorite pastime, kite flying, which can be fun when done safely. Southern California Edison (SCE) offers these important tips to keep customers safe while having fun.
- If you build your own kite, always use dry string, wood and paper. Never use metal, wire, metallic string or metallic cloth to make your kite.
- Fly your kite in open areas, away from power lines, TV or radio antennas and roads.
- Don't fly your kite in the rain or near SCE substations.
- Land your kite safely - watch for people, pets or moving cars.
- If a kite becomes tangled in power lines, do not retrieve it. Call SCE at (800) 611-1911 for assistance.
SCE encourages customers to fly their kites as far away from power lines as possible not only for safety reasons, but to avoid power outages. Over the last five years, 35 outages have occurred in the utility's service territory due to kites contacting power lines.
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An Edison International company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation's largest electric utilities, serving a population of more than 11 million via 4.3 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California. For more information on the California electricity market, see www.sce.com.
