Copper theft could cause outages, extra costs for Farmers RECC members

GLASGOW, Ky. – Farmers RECC says it is experiencing a string of copper thefts from utility poles that has caused concern for the safety of the thieves, the safety of our grid and the safety of its employees.

According to Farmers RECC, anyone approaching a utility pole without training is a potential risk.

In addition, officials say removing grounds from poles can expose lineworkers to safety hazards while they are restoring service. It also decreases system reliability.

Farmers RECC says copper wire grounds are on the poles to protect from lightning strikes, and when they’re removed, the grid is much more susceptible to failure.

Officials say lineworkers must find poles that have had the copper removed and spend extra time repairing them.

Overall, Farmers RECC says copper theft can do serious damage to the grid and is asking the community to report suspicious activity to them and local authorities.