The down economy and the ‘up’ price of copper is causing a number of people to play a dangerous game—stealing copper from live power facilities.  Blue Ridge Electric issued a statement yesterday on the matter, saying that ‘Danger’ signs used to be enough to keep folks away from substations and other facilities, but with the economy and potential profit from metals, some are tempting fate—sometimes with fatal results.

Renee Whitener from BREMCO issued a statement yesterday, saying there have been incidents where thieves have been hurt or killed when attempting to break in and take copper from electric substations. Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation is asking the public for help in stopping these dangerous thefts:   If you see any unusual activity in or around substations, towers, utility poles, storage sites and other electric utility property, report it to your local electric cooperative or law enforcement agency immediately.
No one should ever climb substation fences, utility poles or towers. People should also stay away from substations and transformers. Activity like this is hazardous and can result in severe injury and even death. Only trained, professional line technicians and utility workers should ever be in or around a substation, power poles and lines, or other electric facilities.