stay safe tips

• Never touch anything electrical with wet hands or use electrical appliances in a wet place or near water, such as a hair dryer near a bath or basin containing water.
• Don't use an electric heater in the bathroom unless it is specially designed for bathroom use.
• Don't use electrical cords or appliances near the pool.
• Don't play with kites or planes near overhead powerlines. Fly planes and kites in a big open space like a park or an oval, where there are no powerlines. Call ENERGEX (or your local electricity supplier) if a kite or plane does get caught in powerlines.
• Look up and watch for electrical lines near and around docks. Don't swing booms or poles near them. Also watch out for powerlines when towing or launching a boat with a tall mast.
• Don't trim trees near powerlines. Call ENERGEX (or your local electricity supplier) to come and trim the tree. Click here for information on powerline friendly trees.
• When carrying long metal objects such as ladders or swimming pool skimmers, watch out for electric wires running overhead.
• Never attach swings, clothes lines, hanging baskets, or the like around beams which have electrical wires attached.
• Tempted as you may be to do unauthorised electrical work and repairs around the home, stop and think about your family. It's just not worth it. Unauthorised electrical work is illegal and you can be fined up to $1,500. Also you can void your home insurance policy if it is found that damage has occurred as a result of unauthorised electrical work.

hot water safety tips

• Install a hot water shut down valve on your tap to stop hot water running once the temperature reaches 50^oC and will not function until the temperature lowered.
• An alternative to the hot water shut down valve is a tempering valve which allows you to nominate a temperature between 35^oC and 50^oC.
• Run cold water through the tap after using hot water to ensure the next user isn’t caught unawares.

generator safety tips

ENERGEX understands that some people have a need for generators. However, if residents are going to install generators, they must ensure these are kept in well ventilated areas. Also, residents shouldn’t overload their powerpoints or connect the generator to their home wiring unless installed by a licensed electrician.

The Electrical Safety Office has provided additional information on portable generator safety. To view this information, please visit their web site.