Recognizing electrical hazards around your home and knowing how to avoid them could save your life. The following information and resources will help you stay safe around electricity.
Learn About the Dangers of Damaged Equipment
In this video, Lucky the Safety Squirrel teaches why you should never use damaged electrical equipment.
Hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor
Check regularly for new or potential hazards around your home, and if you find them, hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor to complete electrical work. The Electrical Safety Authority has a handy look-up tool to find a Licensed Electrical Contractor in your neighbourhood.
Electrical Inspections
An electrical inspection is required for any new electrical installation.
This includes any work done by an electrician. The inspection will ensure that the job has been done correctly and safely and meets the Ontario Electrical Safety Code standards. Inspections are performed by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Services that have been disconnected for six months or longer must also be re-inspected and approved by ESA before reconnection.
A valid ESA notification to reconnect is required if the service is disconnected for electrical work or upgrades by the customer or electrician because of a fire, meter tampering or some other safety concern identified by GrandBridge Energy.
For more information on electrical inspections before connections, please review our Conditions of Service.
Temporarily Disconnect Power
Contact us to temporarily disconnect power to your property when you are renovating or performing electricity upgrades. This service is provided free of charge during regular business hours. Fees will apply for services performed outside of business hours. Access more information on Service Requests to temporarily disconnect electricity.
Electrical Safety Tips
Did you know that even low-voltage shocks like a zap from a toaster can have serious, long-term effects? Use the Electrical Safety Authority’s checklist to make simple fixes in your home to help prevent an electrical shock.
- Contact a qualified electrician to replace damaged receptacles: receptacles that feel hot, emit smoke or sparks, have loose-fitting plugs, or where plugged-in lamps flicker or fail to light.
- Upgrade your electrical system to present safety standards.
- Make sure all electrical outlets are three-hole, grounded outlets to prevent electrical shock. If there is water in the area, there should be a GFI or Ground Fault Interrupter outlet.
- Ensure all outdoor outlets are GFIs.
Turn appliances off before unplugging them to prevent damage to receptacles. - Insert plastic safety caps into unused outlets within reach of young children.
- Turn the power off and verify there is no power before working on any electrical outlets or equipment.
- Use extension cords only when necessary and temporarily.
- Keep all cords away from heat and water.
- Use only three-wire extension cords for appliances with three-prong plugs. Pull a plug out of an outlet by the plug, not the cord.
- Never use a plug when your hands are wet or touching a metal object.
- Never break off or bypass the third-prong plug using a grounded (three-prong) plug.
- Use special, heavy-duty extension cords for high-wattage appliances such as air conditioners, portable electric heaters, and freezers.
- Never cover any part of an extension cord with newspapers, clothing, rugs, or any objects while the cord is in use.
- Don’t overload extension cords by plugging in appliances that draw a total of more watts than the cord’s rating.
- Install the correct fuses for the electrical panel.
- Never use a greater numbered fuse. If fuses are used and there is a stoppage in power, look for the broken metal strip on the top of a blown fuse. Replace the fuse with a new one marked with the correct amperage. Reset circuit breakers from off to on.
- Be sure to check why the fuse or circuit blew. Possible causes are frayed wires, overloaded outlets or defective appliances. Never overload a circuit with high-wattage appliances. Check the wattage on appliance labels. If there is frayed insulation or a broken wire, a dangerous short circuit may cause a fire. If power stoppages continue or a frayed or broken wire is found, contact an electrician.
- Keep space heaters away from combustibles, and ensure they cannot tip over.
- Do not use them in bathrooms because of the risk of contact with water and electrocution.
- Use a heavy-duty, grounded, three-wire cord for power tools.
- Do not use devices with damaged cords or plugs.
- Do not use electrical devices in wet locations.
- Keep electrical devices clean (i.e., free of dust or grease accumulation).
- Turn off electrical devices when they are not in use.
- Do not modify electrical equipment except in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.
- Use the proper wattage light bulbs in light fixtures and lamps.
- Keep flammables away from light bulbs.
- Turn off light switches or outlets if they feel warm to the touch, unplug them and have a qualified electrician check the wiring immediately.
- Check each holiday light socket and light string for frayed cords or damaged plugs. Discard any damaged strings.
- Don’t connect LED strings of lights to conventional, non-LED lights.
- Turn off your outdoor holiday lights and unplug indoor lights before going to bed or when you are not home.
- Read the package directions and make sure you use indoor lights inside. Outdoor lights are not safe to use indoors.
- Avoid overloading electrical outlets and circuits.
- Connect lights to power strips that have several outlets and a built-in circuit breaker.
- Remind children never to touch lights or plugs with wet hands.
- Use generators properly during a power outage; otherwise, they can be dangerous. For more information on portable generator safety and certification requirements, visit the Electrical Safety Authority website.