Utilities expert witness John P. Nelson writes “There are many hazards associated with the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.”
The following is a list of a few of those hazards:
• Contact with energized parts • Electrical arc flashes • Auto accidents involving power poles • Drowning in water associated with hydroelectric plants.
• Illness and deaths from the gases emitted from coal and oil fired generation plants.
• Auto accidents involving trains transporting coal to electric generating stations.
The risks associated with these hazards are minimized with good, sound engineering, construction and maintenance practices. The benefits of safely using electricity far out weigh the risks involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Rather than outlawing the use of electricity due to its inherent hazards, engineering standards and designs have been developed to minimize the hazards and to mitigate the problems to a level of acceptable risk.