RIVERLAND ENERGY
ABOUT
LICENSE TO LIVE PSA
In 2019, Elevate had the privilege of working with a number of organizations to produce an informational video called “License to Live”. The video tells the story of just how dangerous downed power lines can be. Far too often, individuals find themselves in harm’s way, unknowing of the serious situation they’re in. Without proper education, this life-threatening situation can turn deadly in an instant.
The idea was sparked by Carol Blaken, member relations manager at Jackson Electric Cooperative after she witnessed a crash. The crash involved a young teen driver who had a very close call after hitting a utility pole.
“The car was flipped on its hood. My husband went to assess the accident while I called 911. The driver of the car was out of the vehicle, hands on his knees, and my husband said if the driver would have reached up with his arms he would have touched the sagging power lines,”
Carol Blaken
She also stopped the teen from returning to the car to get his cell phone. Realizing how many drivers of all ages are unaware of the clear and present danger of downed lines, Blaken approached Benjamin Bella, safety & compliance coordinator for a group of four western Wisconsin electric cooperatives. Bella worked with a group of representatives from Adams-Columbia Electric Cooperative, Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, Jackson Electric Cooperative, Oakdale Electric Cooperative, and Riverland Energy Cooperative, and the “License to Live” campaign was born.
License to Live PSA
PROJECT
"LICENSE TO LIVE" PSA
The intent of the video was to provide life-saving information and demonstrations in a true-to-life setting. While the information is valuable for all ages, the target audience of this video was aimed towards young adults.
Elevate worked with the Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange, Safe Electricity, Electric Cooperatives of Wisconsin, Viterbo University, and Gundersen Health System to produce an engaging, accurate, story-driven account of two young adults involved in a powerline collision. Due to the demographics historic demand for both quality content. Our task was to produce a video that was narrative, intense, and delivered critical information to ensure no one left without life saving instructions.
To learn more about License to Live and view the video, go to: https://safeelectricity.org/license-to-live/
PROJECT
"WHAT LIES BENEATH" PSA
CALL FIRST BEFORE YOU DIG. It could save your life. This was the message Elevate Media Group was tasked with conveying in the "What Lies Beneath" PSA. In partnership with Wisconsin's electric cooperatives, Federated Rural Electric Insurance Exchange, Elevate created six-minute video that highlighted situations surrounding buried powerlines. The video is meant to be educational for both homeowners and contractors.
Lynn Thompson, the CEO of Eau Claire Energy Cooperative, said, "Digging without knowing where the power lines are is very dangerous, and it happens way too often." "We hope this video will remind people that a little planning ahead can mean the difference between life and death."
There are 20 million miles of wires buried underground, and every six minutes, one of them gets damaged. If the person digging doesn't know where the underground lines are, they could hit them when planting a tree, putting up a new fence, or digging a trench with hand tools or power tools. Contractors and homeowners who want to avoid hitting an electrical line should call 811 at least three business days BEFORE digging. This will mark the areas where electrical lines are so they can be avoided.
To learn more about License to Live and view the video, go to: