• Replace damaged or loose electric cords.
• Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
• If you have small children, install tamper-resistant outlets.
• Follow manufacturers’ instructions for plugging appliances into outlets.
• Avoid overloading outlets. Plug only one high-wattage appliance into an outlet.
• Call a qualified electrician if:
• An outlet feels warm
• The fuse blow frequently or trip currents
• The lights flicker or dim
• Make sure your home has ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in all indoor and outdoor outlets.
• Never plug a three-pronged appliance into a two-pronged outlet or extension cord.
• Have at least one working smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm on each level of your home, especially near sleeping areas.
• Always keep a working fire extinguisher handy.
• During an outage keep a nearby light on so you’ll know when your electricity has been restored.

• Stay away from all downed and sagging wires—assume they’re “live” and deadly. Report them right away by calling 800-477-5050 and call 9-1-1.
• Before cleaning up damaged trees or branches, make sure power lines aren’t touching them. Don’t attempt to remove limbs from power lines.
• Stay at least 25 feet away from downed power lines and anything they may be touching.
• DO NOT touch the electric service mast or cable above the electric meter. Utility crews will reconnect the wires to the mast, but only after a licensed electrician has checked or repaired the pole or cable.
• If safe to do so, check on neighbors who may need special assistance such as the elderly, those with disabilities, or families with infants.
• If you leave the house, turn off the main breaker to reduce the chance of appliance damage.
• Keep your distance from our work crews so they can restore your power quickly and safely.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for care and maintenance.
• Warn children not to play near gas appliances, especially fireplaces, stoves and ovens.
• Keep the area around your furnace and water heater clear of items that could block air circulation. Natural gas needs oxygen to burn properly.
• Keep paint, varnish, turpentine, glue, gasoline, cleaning fluids and other chemicals away from gas appliances to prevent possible ignition sources.
• Do not store paper and other flammable materials near your furnace or appliances.

• Keep the area around the unit clear of leaves and debris that could block airflow.
• When planting shrubs, make sure you don’t block airflow to the unit.
• Have your central air conditioner checked by a qualified contractor once a year.

• Always vent the dryer to the outside.
• Don’t use your dryer for items that are made with foam, rubber or plastic, or cleaned with spot remover or other flammable products.
• If drying time seems longer than normal, call a qualified contractor to inspect your dryer.
• The repeated motion of a dryer can crack the flexible fuel line on the back, causing a gas leak. At least once a year, check or replace rusty or damaged hoses and connectors. Be sure the fuel line valve is in the off position before replacing the tubing or call a qualified heating contractor.

• Have your furnace inspected once a year by a qualified heating contractor.
• If your furnace isn’t providing heat, check to see if the circuit breaker is on.
• If a fuse blows after being replaced, call a licensed electrician. You could have a short in the wiring.
• Check for rust and corrosion on the vent pipe connected to the chimney. Make sure it’s secure at both ends.
• Keep your chimney and vent pipe free of obstructions like leaves, nests, snow and ice.
• Replace vents and flue pipes that have weak spots, rust or cracks. Even small openings can allow dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to collect in your home.
• Check the filter once a month. A dirty filter blocks the warm air flow and wastes energy.
• Remove lint, dust and debris from air ducts and registers.
• Keep the furnace door closed.

• Shut off the gas before you clean, paint or do maintenance work.
• Before using your gas grill, make sure all connections are secure and the hoses don’t have any cracks or holes.
• Make sure the burners and the tubes from the burner to the gas valve are clear. Spiders and other small insects can get into your gas grill and block the gas flow.
• Keep the lid open when you light your grill to prevent gas from collecting and causing a dangerous flare-up.
• Empty the grease container often to prevent buildup on the bottom of the grill.

• If you buy an electric space heater, make sure it has the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label.
• Follow all the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the appliance has a three-pronged plug, plug it directly into the wall outlet. (The third prong grounds the appliance and prevents shocks.) Some extension cords can’t handle that amount of electricity and could cause a fire.
• Keep the heater away from curtains, drapes and bedspreads and other flammable materials.
• Keep the heater away from water and never touch it when you’re wet.
• Always unplug the heater before you go to bed or leave home.
• Don’t use or store flammable paints, chemicals, gasoline and aerosol sprays near your heater.
• The vapors could ignite and cause a fire.
• Don’t use a space heater if the cord is frayed or damaged.
• Never use a space heater in place of your home heating system.

• Follow all manufacturer’s instructions.
• Be sure the anti-tip device is installed properly.
• Movement of your gas stove or oven can cause the flexible fuel line on the back to crack, resulting in a gas leak. At least once a year, check or replace rusty or damaged hoses and connectors. Be sure the fuel line valve is off before replacing the tubing. Or call a qualified heating contractor.
• Never use your stove or oven to heat your home.

• Set the temperature on your water heater at 120° or lower. Water that is too hot can cause severe burns. Children and the elderly are especially sensitive to hot water.
• Do not use or store flammable paints, chemicals, gasoline and aerosol sprays near your water heater. The vapors could ignite and cause a fire.
• When installing a water heater wrap, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Cut out access to the controls, thermostat, drain, pilot light and air supply areas, including the bottom of the heater and vent connections.

• Install a CO alarm for each floor of your home. The National Fire Protection Association recommends installing CO alarms in a central location outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. They’re available at home improvement, hardware and grocery stores.
• Check or replace the battery when you reset your clocks for Daylight Savings Time each spring and fall.
• If the alarm goes off, leave your home immediately and call 9-1-1.

• Get your heating system, water heater and any other gas, oil or coal burning appliances checked by a qualified technician every year.
• Don’t use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement, garage or near a window.
• Don’t leave a car or truck running inside an attached garage, even if you leave the garage doors open.
• Don’t burn anything in a stove or fireplace that isn’t vented.
• Don’t heat your home with a gas oven.
• Learn more about carbon monoxide poisoning on the CDC Website.

• Check to see if anyone in your home feels dizzy, light-headed, nauseous, confused or has a headache.
• Get everyone, including pets, out of the home and into fresh air.
• Call 9-1-1 for immediate medical help.
• NEVER re-enter your home until help has arrived, your house has been investigated and the problem is corrected.
• Call a qualified contractor or your natural gas or propane provider to have your appliances checked.

• Never operate a generator inside your home, garage, basement or enclosed area.
• Never fuel a generator when it’s running. Turn the generator off and let it cool before refueling.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• A generator needs to be at least 25 feet from an enclosed area to avoid exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide entering the home.
• Proper ventilation is critical.
• Review more generator tips.

• If you will be digging anywhere near a marked area - especially if you are using power equipment - use a wood handled shovel and carefully hand dig to expose the lines. This will prevent emergencies and unnecessary service interruptions to you and your neighbors.
• Look for applicable markers, paint and/or signage that indicates the presence of underground natural gas lines, to include those lines recently installed.

• Seek shelter right away in a permanent structure (a designated severe weather shelter, basement, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor possible, such as a bathroom or hallway).
• Never seek shelter in a mobile home or trailer.
• If there are no reinforced buildings nearby, take shelter in a car, truck or other hard-topped vehicle and keep the windows closed.
• Avoid trees, golf clubs, tractors, fishing rods, bicycles and camping equipment as they can attract lightning.
• Power surges from lightning can cause costly damage to home appliances and electronics. Install surge protectors or unplug electronics before a storm.
• After a tornado has passed, watch for downed wires and gas leaks. Stay a safe distance away and report them to us at 800-477-5050 and calling 9-1-1 as well.
• Visit Do1Thing.com to take one new planning goal each month toward becoming fully prepared for emergencies.

• Avoid travel unless necessary.
• Make sure furnace vents and meters are free of ice and snow.
• Help pipes from freezing during cold temperatures by keeping a constant drip in your faucets.

• If you’re in a flood zone, consider raising your utilities above the base flood level.
• If emergency personnel evacuate a flooded area, electricity and natural gas services are likely to be shut off for safety.
• After flooding recedes, check for gas odors before entering any area. If you smell a rotten egg odor, leave right away and call us at 800-477-5050 and calling 9-1-1 as well.
• Never enter a flooded basement if there’s a chance the power is on.
• Consider flooded appliances unsafe to use until a mechanical contractor inspects them. Follow all manufacturer’s instructions.
• Downed power lines in standing water are extremely dangerous. Assume they’re “live” and stay at least 25 feet away from the wires and any wet areas they may be touching.
• Report any downed wires by calling us at right away at 800-477-5050 and 9-1-1.

As your natural gas provider, we maintain all natural gas underground facilities from the gas main up to the gas meter. As the property owner, you’re responsible for maintenance and operation of all gas lines that flow from the meter to all appliances. This includes gas lines to your yard lights, grills, pool and spa heaters, garages, workshops or other similar areas.

You should have a regular maintenance program for the underground lines you own. These lines must be checked for leaks and, if metallic, corrosion.

State law requires you contact MISS DIG 811 by calling 8-1-1 or going to www.missdig811.org at least 3 full working days before you dig. MISS DIG 811 will arrange to have underground power lines, gas lines and other utilities marked at no charge so you can dig safely. You are responsible for marking underground lines that run from the meter to other structures on your property, to include garages, gas grills and yard lights. If you have an outdoor sprinkler system, you will also need to mark those lines.

• Never hang clothes or other items on indoor gas lines as it could lead to a gas leak.
• Have gas appliances regularly inspected by a qualified contractor and follow all other manufacturer’s instructions.
• Any time you smell a rotten egg odor, leave the area immediately and call 800-477-5050 and 9-1-1. For more information, visit our Natural Gas Safety guide.

Damaging a gas line is a serious safety concern. Report all gas leaks to Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050 and 9-1-1 from a safe location.

• Never open your door to a suspicious person.
• Ask the person to show you a company picture ID (all Consumers Energy workers and contractors are required to carry one).
• Make sure the person is either driving a Consumers Energy vehicle or has a magnetic Consumers Energy logo on their personal vehicle.
• See if meter readers are carrying a handheld device to read meters and record energy use.
• Don’t pay anyone for work you haven’t requested.
• Report any suspicious or threatening activity to local police.
• Be ready to offer a description of the person and their vehicle.