May is National Electrical Safety Month, a good time for Guthrie County REC to highlight a topic we’re very passionate about.

Promoted by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), National Electrical Safety Month is an annual campaign to educate key audiences about the steps that can be taken to reduce the number of electrically related fires, fatalities, and property loss.

This year’s theme, “Energy Resilience” examines how emerging technology, such as photovoltaics, electric vehicles, and energy storage systems can provide energy resilience to homes and businesses. Working on or around new technology can pose hazards, however.

For instance, if you have solar panels installed on your roof or elsewhere on your property, please be aware of the risks and keep a safe distance from the electrical equipment. Even if disconnected from the home, solar panels will continue to generate DC power and can cause a shock. Remember, as long as the sun is shining, solar panels will be energized.

To prevent injury, stay at least 10 feet away from solar panels; never walk on solar panels (energized or not) and never cut conduit or the solar array’s electrical wiring without consulting a professional, and never touch broken or damaged solar panels. If there is an emergency situation at home or in the vicinity of a solar array, let the first responders know before they enter the property and provide them the location of the solar panels.

For the vast majority of homeowners, solar panels should not be cause for any safety concerns. Solar panels are essentially an additional electrical appliance in your home and should be considered in a similar vein as refrigerators and air conditioners when it comes to the danger that they bring to your home.