Practice Electrical Safety to Protect Your Home and Family

Electrical hazards are one of the leading causes of household fires and other incidents. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 51,000 electrical fires occur every year and 400 people are electrocuted nationally. Many of these incidents are easily preventable by understanding and adhering to basic electrical safety principles and prioritizing them in your home. The new year is a perfect time to begin practicing electrical safety.

Below is a simple checklist to conduct an inspection of your home this new year. How many of these have you completed recently or consistently? 

Upgrade Lighting to LEDs

Not only do LEDs use a fraction of the energy and have a far longer life than traditional lighting, they also produce less heat and reduce the risk of starting an electrical fire. So, they will save you on your energy bill over time and also make your home more safe. 

Reset GFCI Outlets Monthly

Set a calendar notification on your phone to remind you to reset your GFCI outlets at the beginning of each month. Simply press the test/reset button and make sure the outlets trip and reset correctly. If they are malfunctioning, contact a certified electrician to have them replaced.

Install Additional Outlets

It is easier than you might think to overload an outlet, and it is not safe to depend on extension cords for long periods of time. If you need additional outlets for your appliances, contact an electrician about having some installed before reaching for extension cords or adapters.

Replace/Upgrade Old Wiring

A number of homes in the United Power service territory were built many years ago. Consider having your home inspected to see if new wiring is recommended. Signs that your wiring may be faulty include flickering lights, sudden loss of power, or burning/sparks around your outlets. Wiring can break down over time due to construction damage, rodents, or even just old age.

Steps Toward Electrical Safety

Here are some further steps you can take to make sure your home is safe day-to-day. 

• Discard damaged or frayed electrical cords.
• Keep walkways clear of extension cords or other electrical power cables.
• Limit your outlets to a single high-wattage appliance at a time. 
• Make sure the bulbs in your lamps are consistent with the wattage recommendations.
• Only use appliances on level surfaces.

More information about home electrical safety.

Members Select Nonprofits to Receive $12,000

4-H Tail Twisters

Tail Twisters is a local 4-H Club based in Fort Lupton, providing hands-on, real-world learning that takes place in the community where youth have the opportunity to develop relationships, skills, and leadership, with a focus on “learning by doing.” The grant will be used to make blankets for nonprofits serving the local community.

Brigit’s Bounty

Brigit’s Bounty offers food to the local community. All food grown at its one-acre Giving Garden in Frederick is donated to community members in need. Its goal is to be a community resource with low-cost youth programs; fresh produce for residents in need; and educational resources about gardening, nutrition, and the environment. 

Erie Food Bank

The Erie Food Bank provides food assistance to those in need in Erie. It primarily supplies perishable and supplemental items that are not received through organized food drives, as well as provides assistance with utilities. Food bank volunteers also prepare holiday meal baskets. 

Graceful Oaks Youth Ranch

Graceful Oaks serves the Weld County community by working with kids and providing trauma informed animal therapeutic services. They also offer the Empowering Youth Leadership Program for teens, helping them build a foundation in leadership, including career and business skills.

Pastor’s Pantry

Pastor’s Pantry is a food pantry operating out of the Whispering Pines Church, providing food and pantry supplies to those experiencing food insecurity in Coal Creek Canyon and the surrounding area. It is open to the public and you do not need to attend the church to receive help. 

Pennock Center for Counseling

Pennock Center exists to fill a gap in mental health services by increasing access to care through the use of a sliding fee scale to determine the cost for counseling services. The center also adjusts fees to meet the needs of those experiencing financial hardship.