May 11, 2004 RICHMOND, Va. - When Hurricane Isabel slammed into Virginia last September, many people turned to portable electric generators to run essential appliances and lights until power was restored. With May as National Electric Safety month and the start of the 2004 hurricane season around the corner, Dominion reminds customers to use those generators safely. "Generators can be a second line of defense when the power goes out because of storms and natural disasters," said Jay L. Johnson, president and chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power.

"But when these storms happen, and our customers turn on their generators, we don't want them to injure themselves or our line crews because of improper installation or use."

During Hurricane Isabel, four Virginians died from carbon monoxide poisoning because they operated gas-powered portable generators in enclosed areas. Yet carbon monoxide poisoning is just one of many potential dangers present.

"Generators can pose serious health and safety hazards if they are not set up properly or if they are not properly sized," said Johnson. "The improper use of generators can endanger the lives of our field employees if the electricity they generate flows back onto our power lines. We know it is important to raise the level of generator safety awareness."

The Dominion safety campaign includes a media-based community outreach, public service announcements, the distribution of generator safety tips and information in customers' bills, and the development of content for Dominion's Web site, www.dom.com.

Thousands of consumers purchased generators during and after Hurricane Isabel. Many new owners of portable generators may not know how to set up and operate their generators safely, or they may have not used their generator since last fall.

When purchasing a generator, consumers should choose one that is specifically rated for "home stand-by use" and includes automatic voltage regulation. Without these features, home electronics and appliances requiring steady, non-fluctuating voltages—such as televisions and personal computers—can be damaged.

If connecting a generator to your house wiring is necessary, the only safe way to do so is to have a licensed electrical contractor install a transfer switch. The transfer switch makes sure the power from your generator flows into the house and not back onto power lines.

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 box.
• 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 won't 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 store your fuel safely.

Also, don't wait until there is an outage to operate your generator. Periodically test it to ensure that it is operating properly.

For additional safety tips and more information about generator safety, type in keyword "generator safety" at Dominion's Web site located at www.dom.com.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with an energy portfolio of more than 24,000 megawatts of generation, 6.4 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves and 7,900 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline. Dominion also operates the nation's largest underground natural gas storage system with more than 960 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves 5.3 million retail energy customers in nine states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

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