Power for Progress: Recognizing May as National Electric Safety Month

Recognizing the need for electric safety
May is National Electric Safety Month. GRDA is getting a head start on the month by sharing information on how to recognize overloaded electric circuits in the home.

Power for Progress…

A weekly column from the Grand River Dam Authority

Don’t overload your circuits...

Recognizing May as National Electric Safety Month 

May is recognized as National Electric Safety Month and is a great opportunity to revisit electric safety, share important safety tips and perhaps schedule a home electrical inspection. The Grand River Dam Authority is proud to take part in National Electric Safety Month and will be sharing tips all month long. This week, we get a head start on May with important information about overloaded electrical circuits. Here are some tips from the Electric Safety Foundation International (esfi.org) that can help you avoid this potentially deadly problem …

These are some warning signs of overloaded circuits:

• Flickering, blinking, or dimming lights.
• Warm or discolored wall plates.
• Burning odor coming from receptacles or wall switches
• Frequently tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses.
• Crackling, sizzling, or buzzing from receptacles.
• Mild shock or tingle from appliances, receptacles, or switches.

Here are a few ways you can prevent electrical overloads in your home:

• Never use extension cords or multi-outlet converters for appliances.
• All major appliances should be plugged directly into wall receptacle outlets. Only plug one heat-producing appliance into a receptacle outlet at a time.
• A heavy reliance on extension cords is a good indicator that you have too few outlets to address your needs. Have a qualified electrician inspect your home and add new outlets.
• Only use the appropriate watt bulb for any lighting fixture. Using a larger watt bulb may cause a fire.
• Finally, remember power strips only add additional outlets; they do not change the amount of power being received from the outlet.

For more electric safety tips, visit esfi.org and check out next week’s column.

GRDA is Oklahoma’s largest public power electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Each day, GRDA strives to be an “Oklahoma agency of excellence” by focusing on the 5 E’s: electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship, employees, and efficiency.