PG&E Urges Customers to Keep Fathers and Families Safe When Flying New Father’s Day Drones
June 16 2017 - 12:46PM
Business Wire
As recreational drones become increasingly popular Father’s Day
gifts across California, Pacific Gas and Electric Company
(PG&E) is launching a new Father’s Day drone safety effort to
urge its customers to keep safety in mind when they fly any drone
near or around electric power lines and transmission towers.
As the popularity of gifting drones grows every year, so does
the safety risk posed by recreational drones when they hit power
lines. Recreational drones that contact overhead power lines can
disrupt electric service to an entire neighborhood, cause
significant property damage and potentially result in serious
injuries if they lead to downed power lines. Just last week, about
1,600 PG&E customers in the Mountain View area were without
power for nearly two hours due to a drone that collided with a
power line. The possible safety risks to families and the community
posed by drones grows during the holidays, and popular gift-giving
days, like Father’s Day.
“Flying a drone has become a popular hobby for fathers and
families, but safety can’t be ignored. While we want our customers
and their families to have fun, we want to provide some basic
safety rules to ensure that a fun hobby doesn’t become a hazard
that endangers them, their loved ones or the community,” said Pat
Hogan, senior vice president, PG&E Electric Operations.
Those safety tips include:
- Drone owners should practice flying
away from people, vehicles, houses and trees.
- Never fly a drone near power lines,
power poles and other electric equipment.
- Keep your drone in sight to make sure
you’re aware of any potential hazards.
- Don’t fly in bad weather conditions,
such as high winds, fog or rain.
- Stay clear of any aircraft, such as
low-flying airplanes and helicopters.
- Learn how to fly your drone via an
online course or by becoming a certified drone pilot.
- Do not attempt to retrieve a drone that
becomes entangled in power lines or a transmission tower.
- If your drone hits PG&E electric
equipment, causing power lines to fall or equipment to spark, call
911 and then PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
This Father’s Day, shoppers are expected to spend $1.8 billion
on consumer electronics, and drones are anticipated to be one of
the most popular Father’s Day gifts. As the use of drones by many
novice users grows in urban areas, as well as areas near power
lines or transmission towers, so does the need to promote greater
public awareness of what to do and not do when flying a drone.
Drones, also known as an Unmanned Aircraft System, or UAS, are
quickly becoming an essential tool for industry, including energy
companies such as PG&E. In July, PG&E announced that it has
received permission from the Federal Aviation Administration to
begin testing drones to inspect its electric, gas and hydropower
facilities. The company sees the tool as a way to improve safety
and affordability. PG&E’s drone operators or contractors are
fully licensed and practice good safety behaviors.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E
Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas
and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San
Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers
some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in
Northern and Central California. For more information, visit
www.pge.com and pge.com/news.
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Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyMegan McFarland,
415-973-5930
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