Tag: JUL17

Grilling Fire Safety

Outdoor grilling is one of the most popular ways to cook. But, a grill placed too close to anything that can burn is a fire hazard. Here are some tips from the Hartselle Fire Department to help keep you and your family safe:

  • Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
  • The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
  • Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area, and keep charcoal fluid out of the reach of children.
  • Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
  • Never leave your grill unattended.
  • Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it.
  • If you use a starter fluid for a charcoal grill, use only charcoal starter fluid. Never add charcoal fluid or any other flammable liquids to a fire.

New Meter Reader

HU welcomes Kevin Pope, our newest meter reader.

Kevin joined Hartselle Utilities from McKee Foods, where he was an independent distributor for the Little Debbie® snack food brand. His experience driving a route and using handheld computer equipment makes him an ideal candidate, says HU Personnel Officer Carol Kirby. “We believe his experience will make for a smooth transition, and we are excited to have him,” she says.

Kevin lives in Vinemont with his wife and young son.

Automatic Bank Draft: The Easiest Way to Pay Your Utility Bill

Are you tired of writing a check to Hartselle Utilities each month? Or have you ever left town and then realized you forgot to pay your utility bill? By enrolling in our Bank Draft Plan, you will never have to worry about late utility bills again – and it will save you money on postage or trips to HU.

How does it work? It’s simple: the amount of your bill is automatically deducted from your bank account on the day it is due each month. The transaction will appear on your bank statement as a payment to Hartselle Utilities.

You still receive your utility bill each month, and your due date does not change. The message “Paid by Bank Draft” will appear on your bill.

To enroll in the program, complete an enrollment form and bring it or mail it to HU along with a voided check. It takes about two minutes to enroll, there is no charge, and  you can cancel at any time with a phone call.

Bank Draft Enrollment Forms may be downloaded and printed from our website at www.hartselleutilities.org. For more information, call HU at (256) 773-3340 or send an email to Customer Service at
inquiries@hartselleutilities.org.

Line Clearing Planned for Southwest Section of System

Tree limbs and branches are common causes of power outages, especially during storms. Hartselle Utilities has a rotating five-year plan to monitor trees and vegetation near power lines, and to clear anything within ten feet of the lines.

In late summer and early fall, HU crews and contractors will clear lines south of Nance Ford Road and Penn Road and west of Highway 31. They will place notices on doorknobs to let customers know that they will be in an area.

If you receive a notice – a bright orange door hanger from Hartselle Utilities – and have trees on your property near electric lines, it is likely the trees will be trimmed or removed. To understand the work intended for your property, call (256) 773-3340.

Avoid the Pruning Zone: Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place

Planning to add trees to your yard this summer? Planting a tree brings many benefits, including shade, privacy, cleaner air, and noise reduction, but choosing the wrong tree can create higher maintenance costs. Where you plant your tree is just as important as the type of tree you plant. At maturity, will its canopy reach overhead lines, or will its roots impact sewer pipes?

Planting the wrong tree for a particular spot – for example, a white oak that will grow to 80 feet tall with a 70-foot canopy underneath a power line – will create an ongoing need for corrective pruning, and the tree will be more prone to disease and structural issues as a result.

Before selecting your tree, make sure you know how tall, wide and deep it will be at maturity. A good source of information is the National Arbor Day Foundation’s online Tree Guide, at arborday.org.

If you are planting within 30 feet of power lines, choose a tree with a mature height of less than 20 feet tall. Flowering dogwoods and crabapple trees, for example, won’t get tall enough to interfere with Hartselle Utilities’ power lines.

Trees with a mature height of over 40 feet should be planted at least 60 feet away from power lines, according to National Arbor Day Foundation guidelines. This will minimize damage to power lines from trees knocked down during bad weather.

Finally, before you dig anywhere in your yard, call the Alabama 811 hotline. After getting the details about your project, the Alabama 811 center will send notifications to all utility service providers
which may have wires or pipes in the ground near your site. At Hartselle Utilities, a Locate Technician will visit the site within 48 hours to mark the location of underground utilities in the area, if any.

If you have a tree in your yard that needs to be pruned repeatedly to keep it away from power lines, HU will cut it down for you at no charge. To request that a tree be removed, call HU Customer Service at (256) 773-3340.