cross arms with the use of an insulated “hot stick.” The training mimicked work to repair electrical infrastructure or install new parts while power lines are energized with electrical current. These exercises underscore TEP’s commitment to safe, reliable and affordable electricity. • Updating infrastructure: Each year, we make investments in our systems to prepare for increasing energy needs. Those include investing in new and upgraded distribution lines, making improvements in area substations to feed our
Here are some of the steps that we take: • Planning ahead: Given the extensive infrastructure we need to maintain, we plan years in advance for the extreme heat of summer. Our resource planners work closely with our grid operators and construction teams in tracking regional growth, evaluating forecasted summer temperatures, planning and executing upgrades and making sure there is enough power supply to support the anticipated energy needs of our community and the expectations of our customers. • Training our employees: In the spring, line crews were trained to make repairs and replacements on energized equipment to minimize service outages to customers, especially during the heat of summer. Journeyman line workers and apprentices practiced removing distribution lines from power pole PREPARING FOR EXTREME HEAT Remember to be safe in hot weather. Take steps now to prepare for the possibility of a power outage during a sustained heat event. Make a plan. Find out where you can go to stay cool, whether a public library, your local church, a shopping mall, or public cooling center. Pima County lists the locations of cooling centers and hydration stations around Tucson.
Journeyman line workers and apprentices practiced removing distribution lines from power pole cross arms with the use of an insulated “hot stick.”
neighborhoods and businesses, and replacing wood poles with stronger metal poles. ◆
Visit pima.gov/heat to find cooling centers near you. Sign up for emergency alerts from the Pima County Office of Emergency Management at MyAlerts.pima.gov and plan to monitor weather alerts and news websites. Ask your doctor how to meet your specific medical needs and have a plan to stay in touch with family and friends. Gather critical supplies. Keep drinking water and non-perishable food items on hand. Also: flashlights, batteries, solar chargers for your devices,
medication, and other critical items. Check FEMA’s “Build a Kit” webpage at ready.gov/kit . Build connections with neighbors. Heat-related illnesses may be reported later in the day since the cumulative impact of heat can cause body temperatures to rise if relief isn’t available. Plan to check in on each other, including older adults or vulnerable neighbors who may need assistance.
May & June 2026, Never Too Late | Page 7
Pima Council on Aging
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