July 18, 2006

RICHMOND, Va. – Summer is a great time of year for family fun and outdoor activities, but it requires additional awareness on the part of everyone to remain safe from weather threats and electrical hazards.

Dominion takes safety very seriously. It is our top priority as a company for our employees, customers and their families. So here are some summer safety tips:

Power Line Safety

Ladders are great tools for summer cleaning of gutters, painting, roof repairs, and putting up antennas. Sometimes the work areas are near electric power lines – usually the service lines from poles to houses or nearby overhead power lines. These power lines do not mix with ladders. Here are some tips to keep safe:

• Keep ladders and tools in the SAFE ZONE, at least 10 feet from any power lines.
• Never count on a power line to be insulated. Most are not, no matter how they look.
• Do not count on a wooden or fiberglass ladder to protect you. Wood can conduct electricity. So will wet, dirty and defective ladders of any kind. Fiberglass ladders are best, but even they are no guarantee of safety.
• Before you use a ladder, check the area above you carefully for power lines or other electrical equipment. Pick a safe route to carry the ladder to the work area, then carry it horizontally – never upright. Put it up only where you have to work. Always make sure that if the ladder fell it would not come into contact with any power lines or other electrical equipment.
• When you are on a ladder, balance and control are not the best. Be careful with pipes, conduits, gutters, antennas and other long objects. Never hold them in a position where they could fall onto a power line. Remember that distances are deceiving from the top of a ladder and make sure you do not lift an antenna or other object up into an overhead line.

Hurricane Safety

Hurricane Isabel was the most devastating natural disaster in Dominion's history. The storm blew through Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in September 2003, knocking out service to more than 1.8 million customers. The company and its customers learned many valuable lessons that are precautions everyone should take:

• Have a good supply of fresh batteries for flashlights, clocks and radios.
• Have several gallons of freshwater on hand. This is especially important for those who rely on well water.
• Make additional ice if a major storm approaches and store it in your freezer.
• Wash clothes in advance of the storm.
• Have a good supply of canned and other non-refrigerated foods available.
• Make sure prescription medications are filled.
• If the power goes out, turn off major appliances such as heat pumps, water heaters and stoves. Unplug other appliances such as TVs, stereos, microwaves, and computers.
• Disconnect cable lines from TVs and stereos and phone lines from computers. This will prevent lightning from traveling into your home through these cables and damaging these expensive items.
• Leave one lamp or light on so you can tell when power is restored.
• Open refrigerators and freezers as little as possible to keep contents cold.
• If using portable or camp-type stoves or lanterns for cooking and lighting, make sure the area is adequately ventilated.
• Do not hook portable generators directly to the electrical system of your home. Electricity could backfeed into power lines endangering repair crews. Either have a qualified electrician perform that work or plug directly into the generator with the proper-sized extension cords.
• Dominion also reminds customers that if they have health problems or are dependent on home medical equipment, they may need to make arrangements in advance for shelter someplace other than their homes.

Also, do not forget your pets. Make sure that they have adequate shelter, water and food and can also be taken care of.

Generators

When Hurricane Isabel slammed into Virginia, many people turned to portable electric generators to run essential appliances and lights until power was restored. Dominion reminds customers to use those generators safely. If you experience a power outage and need to operate your portable electric generator:

• After losing power, turn off the main breaker or pull the main fuse.
• Never plug a generator into a regular household outlet. It can send electricity flowing onto downed power lines that line crews believe are de-energized.
• Before starting your generator, carefully read and follow all of the manufacturer's instructions.
• Be sure that the electrical load on your generator will not exceed the manufacturer's rating.
• Extension cords must be properly sized. Overloaded cords can overheat, cause fires and damage equipment.
• Never use a portable generator to power heat pumps or central air conditioning units. Portable generators are not big enough to power the starting requirements of the compressor. Expensive damage could result.
• Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can be deadly, so run your generator outside with proper ventilation and away from open windows, doors and vents. Also, store your fuel safely.
• Also, do not wait until there is an outage to operate your generator. Periodically test it to ensure that it is operating properly.

Report power outages by calling Dominion at, toll-free, 1-888-667-3000. If the outage affects your neighborhood, be sure to have your neighbors call, too.

Dominion is one of the nation’s largest producers of energy, with an energy portfolio of about 28,100 megawatts of generation. Dominion also serves retail energy customers in nine states. For more information about Dominion and electrical safety, visit the company’s Web site at www.dom.com.

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