Air Leaks
Exterior and interior gaps, cracks or holes which allow air to enter or escape the house should be caulked. Also, weatherstripping should be applied to all windows and outside doors to prevent costly ... more

Always Wear Your PPE
It is absolutely critical that all field personnel wear their personal protective equipment when necessary, including but not limited to: Rubber Gloves, Hard Hat, Safety Glasses, and Fire Retardent C ... more

Appliances
Don't overload outlets with several appliances. Remember to check appliance power cords and connections for excessive wear. And always unplug your appliances before cleaning them.

Call Before You Dig
Your first call prior to digging should always be to Louisiana One call at 1-800-272-3020. This is critical to your safety as all underground wiring is highly energized and it can be life threatening ... more

Circuit Breakers/Fuses
Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size for the circuits. If you do not know the correct size, consult a licensed electrician. Never replace blown fuses with anything other than the co ... more

Cooking
Full-size ovens are not efficient when cooking small quantities of food. When cooking small-to medium-sized meals, it generally pays to use smaller microwave ovens, toaster ovens or slow-cook crockpot ... more

Cooling Systems
Over most of the summer, keep the house closed tightly during the day and ventilate at night either naturally or with fans. If you only need to cool a small portion of your house (for instance, your b ... more

Cords
Make sure cords are in good condition, not frayed or cracked. Cords should be placed far from high-traffic areas. Never nail or staple cords to baseboards or any other object.

Don't Touch
Don't climb trees that are near power lines. Stay away from electric substations and equipment and never touch fallen power lines. These lines are dangerous, even when not sparking.

Energy Saver Settings
Reduce your home heating and cooling costs by keeping your thermostat on the recommended energy-saver settings of 68 in winter and 78? in summer. Fans are very inexpensive and make it seem 3 to 4 degr ... more

Hazard Recognition and Reporting
It is important for all employees to be aware of potential hazards in the electric utility industry. These may include, but are not limited to, fallen or sagging wires, hazardously located antennas, ... more

Heat Pump
A heat pump can reduce electric heating and cooling costs by 30 to 50 percent. Although the initial cost of a heat pump is more than traditional heating and cooling systems, the monthly savings makes ... more

Heater Maintenance
This is an excellent time of the year to have your heater serviced for winter use. There is no question that once the cold season arrives, all A/C repair companies will be extremely busy. Get ahead ... more

Hot Water
Though you need to keep your water heater above 120 degrees to prevent bacteria from building up, many hot water heaters are set too high. Experts also recommend draining a pint or so of water from yo ... more

Housekeeping
All work areas should be kept neat and clean at all times. This includes office areas, shops, indoor and outdoor storage facilities, and truck beds and compartments. Tools and equipment not being us ... more

Insulation
Add a layer of unfaced (without a vapor barrier) batts or blankets on top of existing insulation. Loose insulation may also be poured, spread or blown in the attic floor and spread on top of existing ... more

Lighting
If purchasing a new lighting fixture, consider a fluorescent fixture. Fluorescent bulbs can provide energy savings of 60% to 75% over typical incandescent fixtures. Compact fluorescent lamps are mo ... more

Maintenance
Regular maintenance of your heating and cooling system will reduce your monthly operating expense and extend the life of the equipment. Keep your outside coils free of leaves so air flow is not restri ... more

Office Safety Tips
1. Keep desk and file drawers closed when not in use. 2. Never lean back in a straight chair. 3. Never stand on drawers, chairs, desktops, waste cans or objects other than a device designed for ... more

Outdoors
If you are caught in a lightning storm, seek shelter. Trees do not offer adequate protection in electrical storms. Fly kites and model airplanes far from power lines. Never attempt to retrieve toys fr ... more

Plugs
Never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn't fit. If you are using three-prong plugs in a room with two-conductor outlets, do not cut off the ground pin from the plug. This could lead to electrica ... more

Refrigerators and Freezers
Replace and recycle your old refrigerator and purchase energy-efficient models. Units only 10 years can use twice as much as electricity as a new ENERGY STAR labeled model. Defrost refrigerators an ... more

Save Water
One way to save money that you'll hardly even notice is to install restrictors which limit water flow to two or three gallons per minute in shower heads and five gallons per minute in lavatories.

Set your Air Conditioner to 78 degrees or higher,
By setting your Air Conditioner thermostat as high as is comfortable can significantly improve your summer electric bills. Three to Five percent more energy is used for each degree the air conditione ... more

Speeding is Unacceptable
It is never acceptable to exceed the maximum speed limits, even when passing another vehicle. In the case of rain, fog, or ice, your speed should be reduced allowing improved ability to stop in case ... more

Water Heater
Wrap your water heater with an insulated jacket. To prevent heat loss, insulate hot water pipes that pass through unheated areas with adhesive-backed foam, fiberglass tape or pre-slit foam tubes wrapp ... more

Weatherize Your Home
Experts estimate that all of the tiny gaps and cracks in an older home are roughly equivalent to a one-foot square hole punched in your wall. Sealing any cracks or gaps with caulking and weather-strip ... more

Windows
Replace insect screening with solar screening to block about 70% of the solar heat. Solar films offer an attractive alternative. And window coverings with white or reflective backings can help control ... more