Electric Operations personnel are committed to providing all of our customers with excellent service. Our team of linemen, electricians, project managers and meter technicians are skilled, dedicated and motivated. The mission of the Electric Operations Department is to provide our customers with high quality and reliable power. Electric Operations personnel are ready to serve both night and day, good weather or bad. Reliability, or keeping the power flowing is our goal and service that is second to none.

Tours of Groton Utilities’ Electric Facilities

Tours of Groton Utilities Electrical Facilities are available by appointment for GU customers. Tours include a walk through of the Electric Operations Building, Buddington Substation and Trials Corner Substation. Also included in the tour are a question and answer period on how electricity is distributed throughout the GU territory. Other topics discussed are electrical safety, transformer theory and generation. This is an excellent program for Girls and Boy Scout troops. Please contact Brian J. Roche, Deputy Director– Electric Operations @ 446-4000 for details.

Practice Electrical Safety Outdoors

It’s important to stay safe when electricity is involved. Here are some of the ways you should exercise caution when working or playing outdoors.

Stay Away from Overhead Wires

What is a GFCI?   It stands for “Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter” and is an electronic device for protecting people from serious injury due to electric shock. It is typically part of special outlets located in kitchens and bathrooms.

• Carry ladders and long-handled tools parallel to the ground to avoid coming in contact with power lines.
• Don’t place ladders or install antennas where they might fall into a power line.
• Don’t try to trim trees that have wires running through them; have a professional do it.

Steer Clear of Downed Power Lines

• Call us immediately if you come across a downed power line. Do not go near it.
• Call us at once if someone is touching a utility wire, so that the power can be turned off. Never attempt to move a victim or the power line.
• Stay in your car if a wire falls on it. If the car catches fire, jump clear, without touching the car and the ground at the same time.

Play Safely

• Never fly kites or model airplanes near power lines. Call us to untangle kites or balloons that get caught in overhead wires. Don’t try to do it yourself.
• Don’t release metallic balloons—they can get caught in power lines and cause outages.
• Don't climb or build a tree house in a tree with power lines running through it.

Avoid Substations and Transformers

• Teach children to recognize danger signs displayed on all high-voltage equipment.
• Do not allow children to play around substations or other ground-based electrical equipment.
• Call the us if you see signs of vandalism to electrical equipment or if fences or other safeguards are damaged.

Landscape with Care

• Plant shrubs or low-growing trees under power lines. Trees that grow taller can interfere with our reliable service.
• Call before you dig. We can tell you the location of any underground lines.
• Keep bushy shrubs away from your meter.

Electrical safety is important—indoors and out.
Contact us if you need more information about using electricity safely.