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Generators Pose Threats to Co-op Members and Linemen

Southwestern Electric Cooperative is urging people who use generators to exercise caution.

“When used correctly, generators are a sound short-term solution to a power outage. But if the proper precautions aren’t taken, generators can be deadly to the people using them and to linemen working to restore power,” noted Joe Richardson, Southwestern Electric Cooperative’s director of communications.

“Read your owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s instructions,” Richardson said. “It should cover general safety guidelines as well as procedures unique to your model.”

Richardson cautioned homeowners against connecting a generator directly to their home’s wiring. “That can backfeed power into our distribution lines. Our transformers will step-up that energy, increasing it by thousands of volts. And that’s more than enough to injure or kill a lineman who’s working on that system, even if he’s a long way from your home.”

Richardson said the only safe way to connect a generator to your home’s existing wiring is to hire a licensed electrical contractor to install a double-throw transfer switch. The switch isolates your household, forming a break between the power coming from your generator and the utility’s distribution system.

“And never plug a generator into a household outlet,” said Richardson. “That can also backfeed power into the distribution system, energize power lines and injure family members, neighbors or linemen.”

Generators also produce carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless and deadly gas. Never use your generator indoors or in an attached garage, Richardson said. “Run it outdoors in a well-ventilated, dry area, far away from air intakes to your home.”

Homeowners should plug individual appliances into portable generators using heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cords with a wire gauge suitable for the appliance load.

 “All the standard cord precautions apply here,” he said. “Don't use extension cords with exposed wires or worn insulation. Make sure the cords don't present a tripping hazard, but don't run them under rugs where heat could build up and start a fire. Be selective with what you plug into your generator,” said Richardson. “Overloaded cords can cause fires and damage appliances.

“You also need to make sure your generator is properly grounded,” he said. “And generators get very hot while they’re running; they can deliver a nasty burn, so you’ll want to remind your kids to steer clear of them.”

Southwestern Electric Cooperative, a not-for-profit utility based in Greenville, Ill., delivers power to 20,000 households in Southwestern Illinois.