Irrigation Season

Load Management season has begun! Updates can be seen here on our website each morning. Click on the Irrigation Tab and search “Today’s Load Control” for additional information.

We encourage all irrigation operators  to be safe. Here are a few things to remember as you are using your systems this season:

• 1 – Look up for overhead wires when moving irrigation pipe.
• 2 – All motor screens should be in place and checked for blockage from foreign material such as lint,
dirt, or insects. Cross-ventilation of closed pump house structures should be provided with doors or
louvers.
• 3 – If belts or pulleys are exposed, they should have guards in place.
• 4 – Doors must have positive catches to prevent closing. Keep controls out of the sun.
• 5 – Avoid getting any portion of your body in contact with high-pressure water streams, such as the
end guns on center pivots. Be careful of fast return end guns.
• 6 – Block all electrical box unclosed openings (knockouts) to prevent rodent entry.
• 7 – Discourage children from playing or climbing around irrigation equipment.
• 8 – Stay away from a center pivot during an electric storm.
• 9 – If you suspect a short circuit due to a “tingle”, do not touch the machine again. Have an electrician
check the machine.
• 10 – Bury and guard all power lines around a center pivot. Mark the area with a buried line sign.
• 11 – Never service a center pivot without personally shutting off and locking the master disconnect
switch
• 12 – When working on a tower or tower motor, turn off the tower control switch. If a system restart
should occur and the tower switch is on , the wires you’re holding will be energized.