Electric Safety & Reliability
Home Generators
If you decide you need a standby generator in your home, have it installed and wired by a licensed electrician, and make sure it meets fire underwriter regulations. Have that person brief you on all safety aspects of the generator’s operation.
Generator Safety
If you plan to use a portable generator to provide power during an outage, make every effort to use it properly.
- A generator should only be used outside on stable ground and away from any windows and vents to prevent deadly fumes from entering the home through an opening.
- Read the manufacturer’s instructions. This will help you operate the generator as safely as possible.
- Do not connect the generator to your home’s wiring. Power can flow out of your home into the electric system creating a hazard for crews working in the area.
- This goes for any time of the year – install carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in your home. CO is an odorless, colorless gas produced by fuel combustion that can make you ill with flu-like symptoms and in extreme cases can be fatal.
- Never fill the generator with fuel while it is running or still hot, and don’t store gasoline in your home.
- You will not be able to use all appliances at once. You may have to turn off some appliances to avoid overload. And make sure any connected appliances are off before starting the generator.
- Generators should be used for emergency standby power ONLY and for short periods of time. Your refrigerator does not need to run 24 hours a day to keep food fresh. Monitor the internal temperature, which should be kept at 40° or below.
Please notify LIPA when you purchase or have a generator.
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Additional Resources
For additional information on the installation and use of an emergency standby generator, go to these online resources:
Attention
Generators should be used for emergency standby power ONLY
and for short periods of time.
