Last week, tractors and other equipment hit and damaged four power poles or lines in the Alliant Energy service territory. In each case, a piece of machinery snagged some part of the electrical equipment, pulling it down to the ground, either by passing next to it or under it. No one was hurt in these incidents. Alliant Energy has issued a safety reminder for rural customers.

The company advises people to be familiar with the location of overhead and underground power lines, call 811 before digging, and if in a vehicle or piece of machinery that contacts a power line, stay in the vehicle until emergency personnel tell you it is safe to exit – never touching the vehicle and the ground at the same time and then shuffle away from the vehicle without raising your feet.