“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is one of the most beloved holiday comedies. But if you love cats, there’s one scene that’s something of a nightmare. In the iconic scene, Aunt Bethany’s visiting cat drags a loose string of Christmas tree lights under an armchair. This pulls the plug from the outlet. Chevy Chase, as Clark… Continue reading.

Is your home’s electrical system ready for winter? The best time to find out is long before you hear about the season’s first approaching winter storm, suggests Jon Elkins, vice president of safety, training and compliance at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Taking a little time to prepare your home for colder weather has many benefits,” said… Continue reading.

Whether you’re about to welcome your first baby home or already have toddlers romping about, you’ve probably thought a lot about safety. You have gates to cordon off unsafe areas; you’ve attached rubber guards to sharp corners. You have baby locks on cabinet doors and have anchored tall bookcases and furniture to the wall. But… Continue reading.

With the arrival of harvest time, Indiana’s farmers are shifting into high gear as they move into their fields to bring in crops. All that increased activity puts farmers and farm workers at greater risk, warned Jon Elkins, vice president of safety, training and compliance at Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Combines and grain augers are large… Continue reading.

When planning home improvement projects — especially those that involve electrical work — do you know when to DIY and when to hire a professional?  Homeowners wanting to do it themselves can tackle many types of projects, but when safety becomes an issue, seek a professional with appropriate training, equipment and insurance. “Painting a bedroom… Continue reading.

Neighbors Missy and Beth were heading home after playing pickleball at a school gymnasium. They’d traveled this stretch of their county road together a hundred times over the years. But this drizzly morning was going to be like none before. With their homes almost in sight, they topped a hill. Suddenly, three deer leapt into the… Continue reading.

Camping gets us into the great outdoors and lets us leave civilization behind. Yet, for personal preferences or medical reasons, many of us still want or need the modern conveniences or necessities that electricity provides. Fortunately, most popular campgrounds have electricity at individual sites. For “off-grid” camping, generators and solar panels are becoming more portable…. Continue reading.

Do you recall all the safety rules you were taught about refueling when you first learned to drive? Things like: shut off the engine; don’t smoke; don’t leave the pump unattended; and don’t overfill. If you are among the growing number of drivers sliding in behind the wheel of an electric vehicle, different “refueling” considerations apply. … Continue reading.

Spring has arrived with its profusion of color: whites and pinks … and orange — lots of orange — as in the orange of work zones. National Work Zone Awareness Week (April 17-21) reminds motorists to be careful around those whose jobs put them along the roadways. Indiana’s electric cooperatives remind motorists that work zones… Continue reading.

Planting season is at hand for many of Indiana’s roughly 94,000 farmers. While you prepare to plant the crops that keep the world fed, Indiana Electric Cooperatives reminds you to keep safety in mind — especially when working around electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 62 farm workers… Continue reading.

Don’t rely on extension cords to solve the problem of inadequate electrical outlets. Recognize the signs of an overloaded outlet; if your outlets are overloaded, head to your circuit panel and reset them. Familiarize yourself with your circuit panel before problems could occur.  It’s a common problem for most of us: relying on a handy… Continue reading.

When winter arrives, Hoosiers are never sure of what to expect. Indiana winters include everything from heavy snows, to freezing rain, to ice storms — sometimes all in one day. All of those forms of winter weather can create electrical hazards, warns Indiana Electric Cooperatives. “Being safe around electricity is a year-round need, but Indiana… Continue reading.