At Hendricks Power, we provide more than just power; we provide the peace of mind that comes with a safe community. Electricity is an essential part of our modern lives, but it requires respect and awareness. Use this information to protect your home, your family, and your coworkers.
Never trust appearances—a downed power line doesn't have to be sparking or humming to be deadly. If you encounter a fallen wire, assume it is fully energized and capable of causing fatal injury.
In the Event of a Vehicle Accident:
When a major storm or unexpected equipment failure occurs, restoring power to your home involves a highly coordinated, technical sequence of events. Hendricks Power’s priority is always public safety, which means our crews must first assess the damage, clear fallen lines, and repair high-voltage transmission equipment before they can safely energize individual neighborhoods. The duration of this process depends entirely on the storm's severity and the accessibility of the damaged infrastructure.
While our lineworkers are in the field, your role is to manage your home environment to prevent secondary hazards like fires, foodborne illness, or carbon monoxide poisoning. By following a few critical safety protocols, you can protect your family and your property until the lights come back on.
The safety of our members and our employees is our highest priority, especially during the challenging hours following a major storm. As soon as weather conditions allow for safe travel, our lineworkers rush to the field to begin the grueling work of repairing the grid. While these crews are highly trained and take every necessary precaution before handling downed lines, their lives often remain in your hands. When a portable generator is used improperly, it can create a silent and deadly hazard that extends far beyond your own property.
Portable generators are essential tools for maintaining comfort during an outage, but they must be operated with extreme caution to prevent "backfeeding." This occurs when a generator is plugged directly into a wall outlet, accidentally sending high-voltage electricity backward through your meter and onto the utility lines. This unexpected surge can electrocute lineworkers who believe the lines they are repairing are de-energized. We urge you to review the following safety guidelines to ensure your backup power solution remains a help, not a hazard, to your neighbors and our dedicated repair teams.
The poles and wires that line our streets are complex pieces of engineering designed to move high-voltage electricity safely. While this equipment is built to withstand the elements, it is not designed for human contact. Maintaining a respectful distance from utility infrastructure—both above and below ground—is essential for your safety and the safety of our maintenance crews.
Not all hazards are visible. Your yard contains a hidden network of electric, gas, water, and fiber-optic lines. The depth of these utilities varies significantly based on soil shifting and original installation, making it impossible to "guess" where it is safe to dig.
Whether you are planting a small shrub, installing a mailbox, or building a fence, Indiana law requires you to call 811 at least two business days before you break ground. We will come out and mark your underground lines for free. Digging without a locate request doesn't just risk a massive fine; it risks a catastrophic utility strike that could injure you and leave your entire neighborhood in the dark.
Electricity is the invisible force that powers our modern lives, but it is a force that requires constant respect and vigilance. At Hendricks, our mission goes beyond providing reliable power; we are dedicated to ensuring that every member of our community has the knowledge to stay safe around our infrastructure. While many hazards—like a flickering light or a warm outlet—are easy to spot, many electrical dangers are undetectable to the naked eye. This information is designed to help you identify those hidden risks and respond effectively when the unexpected occurs.
Have a question or need help with a project? Our team is ready to provide the professional guidance and support you need to keep you moving forward.