Safe Planting Protects Members and DEC Employees

As we welcome spring to our service territory, we know that many of our members are eager to get back outdoors and begin the 2026 growing season. Before you grab your garden gloves, DEC asks that you refresh yourself on safe planting practices around electrical equipment. 

If your projects require any digging, make sure to call Delmarva 811 prior to breaking ground. A cable locator will visit your property to check for power lines beneath your proposed planting site. This process protects you and others from any accidental — and potentially deadly — contact with electricity. This isn't just a Co-op rule, it's the law. 

Another thing to consider is how close you can plant to electrical equipment. According to DEC's regulations of service, members cannot plant any vegetation within ten feet (10') in front of electrical equipment, nor within five feet (5') on either side or behind it — including the space around the equipment's corners. 

By calling before you dig and keeping the area around equipment like pad-mount transformers and power pedestals clear, you can accomplish two goals at once — ensure you and your loved ones stay safe while planting, and make it easier and safer for our crews to restore power during outages.