With the change in seasons and the coming busy holidays, El Paso Electric, along with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), urges everyone to keep electrical safety in mind when preparing your home for the fall season. A little safety planning could prevent devastating property loss, injury or death due to electrical accidents. Keep these tips in mind.

Outdoor Safety

  • Be especially careful not to let ladders, trimmers and other tools and equipment come in contact with overhead wires.
  • Unplug and safely store battery chargers that won't be in use again until spring.
  • Safely store warm weather tools like lawn mowers and trimmers drained of fuel, and check cold weather tools and their power cords for unusual wear and tear. Repair or replace worn tools or parts right away.
  • Keep dry leaves swept away from outdoor lighting, outlets and power cords.
  • Use a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) in series with your extension cord or be sure the outlet you connect to is protected by a GFCI.

Indoor Safety Avoid overloading outlets, and never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit.

  • Don't run electrical cords under rugs or carpets. If they overheat, they could cause a fire.
  • Use extension cords only on a temporary basis; they are not intended for use as permanent household wiring.
  • Don't use appliances with frayed, cut or damaged cords; they can cause a short or fire.
    Water and electricity don't mix. Don't place any electrical appliances where they might come in contact with water.



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