Do you slow down when you see orange cones, flashing lights and a "utility work ahead" sign? During National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 14-20), Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is urging drivers to be mindful of its crews working along roadways.

I&M line workers, meter technicians, forestry professionals, customer design technicians, customer service representatives and our contractors often work along major highways, state roads, county roads, neighborhood streets and alleyways. Our vehicles have reflective materials and flashing lights. I&M work zones are marked on roads with orange cones, orange signs and often times we partner with local traffic control companies.

"I&M employees work to ensure reliable and safe power is delivered to our customers day or night, rain or shine - which makes their jobs dangerous," said Heather Kent, I&M's director of Safety and Health. "Safety is our No. 1 focus at I&M, especially for our employees and the public.  Please slow down and avoid distractions when driving through work zones. We want everyone to make it to their destination safe and our employees to go home to their loved ones."

Even with flashing lights, reflective materials, bright-colored clothing, flaggers and orange signs, work zones are incredibly dangerous. You can keep workers, yourself, your passengers and fellow drivers safe with these tips:

• Be alert when you approach a work zone.
• Pay attention to warning signs and directions from flaggers.
• Don’t speed or tailgate near a work zone.
• Avoid distractions like talking or texting on the phone, changing the radio station or eating while passing through a work zone.
• Keep your eyes on the road and not on what workers are doing.
• Don't approach I&M employees in a work zone to ask about a power outage. Crews work with hazardous equipment and electric currents which would cause serious or fatal injuries.

I&M employees and contractors work as quickly and as safely as we can to reduce the impact on your commute and neighborhood. When you drive through a work zone, remember I&M crews are doing their job to help you and your community have safe and reliable power.

For electrical, power outage and storm safety tips, please visit www.IndianaMichiganPower.com/Weather.

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La sede de Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) se encuentra en Fort Wayne, y sus, aproximadamente, 2,000 empleados prestan servicios a más de 600,000 clientes. Más del 85% de la energía eléctrica que proporcionó en 2023 fue libre de emisiones.  I&M tiene a su disposición diversas fuentes de generación, lo que incluye 2,278 MW de generación de energía nuclear en Michigan, 450 MW de generación de energía eólica comprada de Indiana, más de 22 MW de generación de energía hidráulica en los dos estados y, aproximadamente, 35 MW de generación de energía solar a gran escala en los dos estados. The company's generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal-fueled generation.

At American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, we understand that our customers and communities depend on safe, reliable and affordable power. Our nearly 17,000 employees operate and maintain more than 40,000 miles of transmission lines, the nation's largest electric transmission system, and more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver power to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with nearly 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including approximately 6,100 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP is investing $43 billion over the next five years to make the electric grid cleaner and more reliable. We are on track to reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and have a goal to achieve net zero by 2045. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement and inclusion. La familia de compañías de AEP incluye a AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (en Virginia y Virginia Occidental), AEP Appalachian Power (en Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma y Southwestern Electric Power Company (en Arkansas, Louisiana, este de Texas y la región del Mango de Texas). AEP también es propietaria de AEP Energy, que brinda soluciones energéticas competitivas e innovadoras en todo el país. Para obtener más información, visite aep.com.