Electric Cooperatives are concerned that a new augmented reality game may be encouraging its players to get into dangerous situations just to level up in the game.
Katie Ryan-Anderson is a spokesperson for Northern Plains and Dakota Valley Electric Cooperatives. She says some Cooperatives are hearing reports of people getting dangerously close to power poles and electric substations while playing Pokemon Go - even during thunderstorms. Ryan-Anderson says there are actually certain Pokemon characters are found near water or parks - and some of the characters are "electrical."
"I guess they're like, electrical-related Pokemons or something like that. So the game is suggesting that you can find them close to these various pieces of equipment, which isn't a very good idea. And we have no control over where those Pokemons go, but we do want people to use caution if that's the route they're gonna take. They should not be going near substations, they should not be going near power poles, it's very dangerous - and 7,200 volts is nothing to tangle with."
Ryan-Anderson says no injuries have been reported so far. She says it is hoped that raising awareness of this danger will remind players of Pokemon Go to play safely.