Electric utilities are worried that “Pokemon Go” players may get too close to power lines and high-voltage areas in their pursuit to “catch ’em all.”
The Edison Electric Institute, the industry’s primary trade association in Washington, on Thursday tweeted out a warning to gamers to beware of power lines when attempting to catch pocket monsters on the popular new game app that is sweeping the nation.
“#PokemonGo players: be safe when trying to catch ’em all. Stay away from substations & power lines,” the trade group posted on Twitter.
The tweet features a campaign logo warning Pokemon gamers, featuring the iconic Pokemon red-and-white orb in front of towering electric transmission lines.
The warning logo reads: “Practice Safe Gaming!: Stay away from electric lines and substations when catching Pokemon.”
The augmented reality game is played using a smartphone app, making use of the phone’s camera to peer into the real world to see where virtual Pokemon are hiding.
The app forces gamers into the real world to find the digital Pokemon, which can be hiding anywhere.
The trade association started its Twitter warning campaign after major power companies became concerned that the game could lead to injury.
American Electric Power pointed out earlier this week that the game encourages gamers to seek out buildings and landmarks to find specific monsters related to those structures. The Ohio company, one of the nation’s largest utilities, said it encourages gamers to catch “electric-type Pokemon” near electric lines, transformers and substations, according to the Columbus Dispatch newspaper.
“Electrical equipment is very dangerous and not to be considered gaming locations,” AEP Ohio said. “AEP Ohio urges gamers, its customers and the public to stay away from substations, all power lines and equipment on utility poles and underground electrical facilities commonly identifiable as those green boxes in neighborhood yards. Never attempt to enter substations or climb company poles to try and reach transformers. Serious injury or death can occur.”
