At Waterloo North Hydro Inc., safety is our priority. We actively promote safety using advertising, publications and public presentations. Ongoing training as well as the latest technology helps to maintain a safe environment for our employees and the community we serve.
Whether you are at work, at home, or spending time enjoying the outdoors, we want you and your family to be safe around electricity. Please remember to call a certified electrician to do any wiring in your home.
Follow our simple safety tips to protect yourself and those around you:
Appliances that repeatedly blow a fuse, trip a circuit breaker or give you a shock can be dangerous. Unplug the appliance and have it repaired or replaced.
Check to see that the equipment is in good condition and working properly.
Ensure there are no cracks or damage in wiring, plugs and connectors.
A certified surge protector or power bar will protect your equipment in the event of a voltage surge. Use a surge protector bearing the seal of a nationally recognized certification agency.
The best way to protect your electrical gadgets is to unplug them when they are not in use.
A GFCI is a sensor attached to our electrical outlets that senses a current leakage in an electrical circuit. The GFCI will then interrupt power fast enough to help prevent serious injury from electrical shock.
Use GFCIs in any area where water and electricity may come into contact.
Test GFCIs according to the manufacturer's instructions monthly and after major electrical storms to make sure they are working properly.
Replace all GFCIs that are not working properly, but never replace a GFCI with a standard non-GFCI outlet or circuit breaker.
Transformers and Waterloo North Hydro Owned Electrical Equipment
Remember, electrical transformers are not toys. Keep children away from green transformer boxes and stay clear of electrical equipment on the ground
Do not try to retrieve toys or balls that land in transformer stations. If your property lands in one of our transformer stations, please contact us at 519-886-5090.
Do not leave plugged in appliances where they might fall into or encounter water.
If a plugged in appliance falls into water, NEVER reach in to pull it out--even if it is turned off. First turn off the power source at the main electrical panel and then unplug the appliance.
If you have an appliance that has gotten wet, do not use it until it has been checked by a qualified repair person.
Unless you are qualified and experienced in electrical work, consider hiring a licensed electrician for electrical repairs, maintenance and installations.
If you elect to perform such work, make sure you follow these safety basics: Never work on or around "hot" lines. Always de-energize lines and equipment by disconnecting from the power source at the circuit breakers or fuses. Do not forget to test every conductor before you make contact with it.