Oncor and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD) are urging boaters to “be safe and aware of what’s around” in a new public service announcement (PSA) promoting boating safety.

The PSA is one portion of a new, three-year partnership between Oncor and TPWD that focuses on boating safety around power lines that cross over Texas lakes.

“Millions of Texans live, work and play around our equipment,” said Keith Hull, Vice President of Distribution Operations. “Power lines run along or over lakes and streams just like they do your neighborhoods and streets.

“We will use every tool we have to reach as many kids and adults as possible so, wherever they are, everyone remembers to pay attention to what is around them and keep safety top of mind,” Hull said.

Oncor debuted the new PSA on Monday, March 21, during the halftime presentation at the Dallas Mavericks game. In attendance were Stan and Michelle Brannon, who recently helped pass the William Thomas Heath Power Line Safety Act.

The Act is partially named in honor of their son, Will, who died in 2017. The Brannons have shared their appreciation for Oncor’s efforts in educating children and adults about safety around waterways and powerlines.

Oncor is working with TPWD to include power line and electric safety information in the agency’s most widely distributed boating safety booklets and documents. TPWD will also include the same safety information in 400,000 boat registration renewal packets.

Oncor and TPWD will also update electric safety signage at 40 boat ramps and marinas across north Texas this year, with plans to update even more signs in 2023-24.

The new 30-second musical PSA revisits Buck, the Oncor Bucket Truck, from our award-winning Super Safe Kids electric safety program. This time, our friendly cartoon truck spots a sailboat heading dangerously close to a power line.

Buck saves the day and reminds our boating family that you “need to look around when you’re out on the lake.”

The new PSA will play in rotation on PBS Kids programming across our service territory, along with Oncor’s other PSAs, Keep Away from Power Lines and Respect the Box.