EPC & Community

SAFETY WITH POWER

Electricity is a source of energy that has become integral to our daily lives. Because we are so used to living with and using electricity, it is easy to forget how powerful it is and the precautions that we should take to remain safe around our homes and workplaces.

Here you will find some useful information about how to avoid electrical accidents. This information should be used as a guide only and if more specific information is required you should contact EPC or a licensed electrician.

Safety at Home

Ensure children are taught the dangers of electricity from a young age to prevent accidents due to ignorance.

Inside the House

Never use appliances with faulty, frayed, exposed or cracked electrical wires,
Switch off power points before plugging or unplugging devices
Do not attempt repairs of electrical appliances, wires or switches. Hire a qualified licensed electrician to attend to repairs
If you use a portable light, ensure it is fitted with insulation to protect from burns and potential overheating
Turn off all appliances such as electrical oven, kettles, iron when leaving home
Do not overload power boards. It is much safer to have another power point installed
Do not allow liquids to come into contact with power points or sockets
Never touch anything electrical with wet hands or bare feet
Use caution when operating electrical appliances near water sources and always switch off after use
Appliances must be discarded immediately if they have been immersed in water
Ensure electrical cords are kept our of reach of children
Know where the switchboard/meter box is located on your property in case of an emergency
Always ensure the main switch is turned off when replacing fuses
Hire a licensed electrician to inspect the switchboard in the case of disorder

Outside the House

Always keep well clear of overhead power lines
Be careful when working in high areas. Always contact EPC to switch off the power supply during the time that you are working close to overhead lines
If you are excavating land in your area ensure you check with EPC to determine where underground cables lie to prevent interference

Tree Trimming / Clearing

Environmental interference is a serious issue affecting electricity supply in Samoa. The tropical climate encourages rapid growth of vegetation and also means that the country is subject to extreme and destructive weather conditions, such as high winds and cyclones. As a result, minimizing environmental risk to ensure a safe and reliable power supply is of prime importance to EPC.

The practice of tree clearing is in place to prevent injury to people, damage to property and to ensure all customers have access to reliable electricity. EPC has an ongoing maintenance program to keep trees and branches clear of dangerous high and low voltage power lines.

Keeping vegetation clear of power lines will help to prevent:

Accidental electrocution.
Interruption to power supply caused by interfering vegetation.
Electrical fires.

Service your service line; HV or LV leave it to EPC
When vegetation on private properties’ is affecting the dangerous HV or LV lines, EPC will seek permission from the property owner to trim or cut down the interfering trees. It is however, the responsibility of a land owner to clear vegetation planted on their land that may affect service lines on either theirs or neighboring properties. When a tree becomes a potential problem the customer should contact EPC to arrange a power shutdown so that the property owner can safely clear the impeding trees.

Plant away from power lines
Planting away from power lines or planting the correct species of trees near power lines, will also help to prevent environmental interference in the first instance. It is for this reason that customers are responsible for clearing trees within their own property prior to them growing and interfering with service lines.

You can avoid the need to trim trees by planning the way you plant them. By planting large growing trees such as Coconut, Breadfruit and Mango trees away from power lines, they will be allowed to grow larger and thus produce fruit to their full capacity. If you want to plant trees near power lines ensure that they are shorter varieties of shrubs and bushes that will not grow tall enough to reach the power lines.

Safety during a storm / strong winds

Power lines can be damaged in multiple ways including by the weather, trees, animals, vandalism and car accidents. Fallen or damaged power lines can be very dangerous as they carry a high amount of energy. In Samoa, this is a problem that is difficult to prevent due to extreme weather conditions during the cyclone season. It is important to report fallen or damaged power lines to EPC immediately so they can be attended to.

There are precautions that can be taken to prevent electrical related danger during the cyclone season. These include:

Keep appliances and electrical cords out of the rain and away from exposed areas.
Do not use extension cords outdoors except when using an appliance. Extension cords should not be used outdoors permanently.
Do not climb trees, buildings or ladders near overhead power lines or during a storm.
Avoid touching trees or branches near power lines during a storm.
Keep an alternative source of power, such as an oil lamp, in the house in the event that a power outage occurs.
Do not attempt repairs to power lines or appliances these must be attended to by EPC or a licensed electrician.
Clear loose items from around the property that could interfere with the electrical supply during a storm.
Unplug sensitive appliances such as computers, televisions and audio-visual equipment to prevent damage.

THE POWER OF EFFICIENCY

One of the main causes of global warming and the denigration of the environment is inefficient energy consumption, thus using energy efficiently has become a prominent concern in recent times.

EPC is constantly looking for ways to continue its provision of safe and reliable electricity whilst reducing the impact of electricity generation on the environment. As a consumer of electricity you can also help in this quest. Here you will find some information and advice on how to reduce your energy consumption and in turn, reduce your power bill and harm to the environment.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is the notion that we can use less energy to achieve the same level of energy service. For instance, incandescent light bulbs can be replaced with fluorescent light bulbs which use less energy to illuminate the same area. Similarly, switching off appliances and sockets when they are not in use helps to conserve energy as does insulating the home to maintain a temperature once it is cooled rather than continuous use of cooling appliances.

Improving energy efficiency at an individual level will help you to reduce power bills and also minimise your contribution to global warming. The small changes you make around the home may not seem significant but when expanded to a national level, they make a great difference.

Hints and Tips for your home

Saving money on your electricity bill can be done easily by implementing small changes around the home. By using your energy more efficiently you can help limit the number of harmful greenhouse gases released into the environment whilst extending your electricity supply.

Ensure your fridge is running efficiently

Avoid opening the refrigerator door unnecessarily by removing and replacing multiple items at once.
Choose the correct sized fridge for your household. A fridge runs most efficiently when it is full.
Locate your refrigerator in a cool, ventilated area away from the sun.
Defrost the freezer component regularly.
Ensure the seal on the refrigerator door is functioning correctly; Close the fridge door over a piece of paper and attempt to pull it out.
If the paper can be removed easily the seal or hinges on the fridge require adjustment

Smart Cooking

Minimise your use of the oven by using frying pans, microwaves, barbecues or pressure cookers that are more energy efficient than ovens.
Thaw frozen foods prior to cooking.
When using the oven, do not open the door throughout the cooking period.
Use a jug or kettle to boil water rather than the stove.

Cooling Down

Due to constant warm weather in Samoa it can be tempting to use multiple cooling appliances at the same time. Using these appliance more efficiently will help reduce your energy bill and contribute less harmful pollution to the environment.
If you have an air-conditioner ensure that it is set to re-circulate cool air instead of cooling warm air from outside.
Switch off lights when they are not in use.
Clean the filter of your fan or air-conditioner frequently.
Close curtains over large glass areas.
Construct external shading to reduce the amount of heat exposure to the house.
Install ceiling fans in place of stand fans to use less energy.
Install wall and ceiling insulation during the construction of a building to minimize heat fluctuations.
Draughts and unwanted air leakage can contribute to uncomfortable heat fluctuations. Repairing cracks in doors, windows, floors and walls will help keep cool air in and hot air out.

Switching off is a bright idea

Turn off lights when they are not required.
Replace old incandescent globes with fluorescent globes in light fittings. Fluorescent lights use up to 80% less energy to provide the same level of light as an incandescent globe.
Keep lights and fittings free of dust. Dust reduces light and creates the need for greater energy use.