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February may be the shortest month, but it’s packed with special observances like Presidents’ Day, Black History Month and Valentine’s Day, in addition to a host of unofficial “national” days you’ve probably never heard of like “National Tater Tot Day.” But they all have something in common. They were created to draw attention to a particular issue or theme. Valentine’s Day may seem like an observance originally created by a greeting card company, but over time, it’s become a widely celebrated day generating millions of dollars spent on flowers, candy and of course, greeting cards professing our love. But Valentine’s Day isn’t just for the lovebirds. It’s also the perfect time to let our friends, family, co-workers and other special people in our lives know we care about them––with or without a store-bought greeting card. So, in that vein, we’ve created our list of top five reasons why we love serving you, the members of Southeastern Indiana REMC. We love serving our members because without you, the co-op wouldn’t exist. Our purpose is to provide you with reliable, responsible and safe electricity. Simply put, SEIREMC exists to serve you. That’s why we were formed in 1939––to bring power to our local area when for-profit utilities would not. You enable us to complete our mission by supporting our efforts to give back. A major part of our mission is to serve our community and look after the greater good. With your assistance, we’re able to help the most vulnerable members of our community through programs like Operation RoundUp. Members of our co-op also serve on the board of directors. They provide guidance for setting co-op priorities and helping make big decisions. Because our board members live in the area, they’re able to serve as the pulse of the larger community and identify immediate and long-term needs. The broader co-op membership provides helpful input through their vote on director elections and by weighing in on co-op and community issues. You help us get it right. SEIREMC members are great about keeping us in the know. We do our best to avoid power outages, but Mother Nature can occasionally throw us a curveball; our members are quick to report any power disruptions and are patient as our crews work to safely restore power. We know outages are frustrating, and your support as we work through storms means so much to our employees. We also appreciate your feedback on co-op programs and services like our Generator Program, our Vegetation Management Program, and more. Your opinions are critical for the co-op’s success, and we thank you for that. You and other SEIREMC members make up the community we serve ––and for us, it’s all about community. Our employees live and work here too and care about our community the same way you do. We’re invested and work to help it thrive. That’s why SEIREMC donates to local non-profits and scholarship funds. It’s also why we invest in economic development, and why you’ll see our employees volunteering at local schools and other charitable and community endeavors. As a co-op, our mission is to enhance the quality of life in our community and look after its long-term interests. We love serving our members and our local community, and just like you, want to see it continue to thrive.

Today, more Americans are working from home than ever before. More time spent at home means more energy used throughout the day. If you’re punching the clock from home, there are small steps you can take to reduce your energy use and save on electric bills. Here are five easy ways to save energy when working from home. 1. Use a smart power strip. Plugging in your most-used devices, like computers, monitors and routers, to a smart power strip ensures these devices aren’t drawing power when they’re not in use. Smart power strips also give you the option to select which devices should stay in “always on” mode. 2. Unplug your least-used equipment. If your home office includes equipment like printers and scanners, you’re probably not using these electronics every day. In this case, go ahead and unplug your least-used electronics and devices, since many of these draw energy even when they’re not being used. 3. Choose ENERGY STAR®-certified office equipment. If you’re looking to purchase new equipment for your workspace, look for the ENERGY STAR® label to ensure you’re getting the most energy efficient features. Computers, monitors, imaging equipment and other office electronics that receive the ENERGY STAR® rating include power management features to make saving energy easy, and most are designed to run cooler and last longer. 4. Flip the switch and use natural light instead. It’s still chilly out there, so take advantage of natural light and additional warmth from the sun. When you’re working during the day, open blinds, curtains and other window coverings to let natural light in––and don’t forget to turn off the lights to reduce energy use! 5. Lower the thermostat. Home heating makes up a significant portion of your energy bills. Turn the thermostat down a couple degrees during the day to reduce energy use and save money. The Department of Energy recommends setting the thermostat to 68 degrees or cooler during winter months. You’re more likely to stay focused and alert when it’s cooler in your home, so all the more reason to mind the thermostat. Working from home doesn’t have to take a toll on your energy bills, and whether you’re working remotely or not, these practical tips can help everyone reduce their energy use. Contact Southeastern Indiana REMC if you have questions about your bills or want additional information about saving energy at home.

Stay in the car! On a late wintry Saturday afternoon, Nick and Blake decided to take Nick’s car to a movie — despite falling snow and parental advice to stay home. Moments later, where the county road zigged and zagged a mile past their neighborhood, Nick’s car did neither. It slid straight off and bumped into an electric cooperative utility pole. The car’s air bags exploded, but both teens were unhurt. Then, they did something that could have turned this property damage accident into a multiple fatality: they stepped out of the car. “Stay in the car, stay in the car, stay in the car!” is the mantra Southeastern Indiana REMC wants drivers to remember. “When a power line is involved, even a minor accident can become tragic,” said Brandon Linville, Director of Operations at SEIREMC. “It cannot be stressed enough that staying inside the vehicle, and warning passersby to stay away, too, is the safest route. Only after a first responder arrives on scene and says it’s OK, should you get out.” However, staying inside the vehicle may go against a driver’s first inclination. You want to get out and check the car. But stepping out of the car immediately after striking a utility pole may KILL YOU. Here’s why: Power lines can fall. When a pole is struck, power lines can fall, and hardware can break loose from its insulated perches atop the pole. Fallen power lines can still be energized. Even touching the ground, power lines can still be carrying 7,200 volts or more. They may not spark or buzz. Fallen power lines are hard to see. Silhouetted against the sky or glistening in sunlight atop poles, power lines may seem easy to see. But when knocked down and twisted with tall grass or trees as a background, especially at night, power lines are almost impossible to see. Electricity seeks the quickest path to ground. If you get out of the car and touch a live power line and the ground, you become that path. That amount of electricity passing through you can kill you instantly. If you are alive, you are safe. It’s not easy to know if power lines have broken loose and are on your car. But if you are alive, you are not that deadly “path to ground.” If you were in that path, you’d already be dead. Call 9-1-1. After hitting a pole, call 9-1-1. Tell them you hit a pole. And wait patiently. Tell passersby to stay back. Wait till you know it’s safe before exiting. Making a safe escape from downed power lines If your car comes in contact with a utility pole, power lines may have fallen. If that happens, stay in the car and call for help. A fallen power line could still be energized and could be energizing your car. If you step from the car, you could become electricity’s path to ground and be electrocuted. Only if the accident has caused a fire or there is another immediate threat to your safety should you exit the car. To be safe, here is how to you must exit: Open the door without touching the metal of the door frame. With both feet together, hop out and away from the vehicle so no part of your body touches the vehicle and the ground at the same time. Maintain your balance. Keeping your feet together, slowly shuffle away so that the toe of one foot moves forward along the length of the other foot. Keep both feet in constant contact and always touching the ground. Keep shuffling 30 or more feet until you are away from the car and power line. Be watchful for low hanging power lines or lines on the ground. What to do if you hit a utility pole If your vehicle comes in contact with a utility pole or a downed power line, the most important thing is to stay inside the car! Stepping out could electrocute you if your car is touching energized lines. While you wait for help: DO gather your wits. DON’T open the car door or reach out the window. DO call 9-1-1 if you have your cell phone. Tell them you’ve struck a utility pole and power lines may have fallen. DO tell passersby to stay back. They might walk right into a fallen energized line.

Brittany Sams LaGrange County REMC Manager, Marketing and Strategy The co-op family When Brittany Sams was hired as an accountant at LaGrange County REMC, her college degrees and experience prepared her for accounting and business, of course. But no education or previous experience prepared her for the not-for-profit business model and the many accounting differences that come with a consumer-owned utility. The plan was for her to be transitioned in and mentored by the REMC’s retiring finance manager. However, the finance manager’s retirement came the week before Sams started. That’s when Sams fortunately experienced another cooperative concept for which she was unprepared: the cooperative principle of “cooperation among cooperatives.” The steep and bumpy learning curve she faced alone was smoothed by accountants from other Indiana REMCs, near and far, who offered her advice and mentored her. “It was very unusual,” she recalled. “I couldn’t believe another company was willing to help. People were so helpful and open: ‘This is how we do it.’; ‘This is who we use.’ It’s just something you don’t see every day. Most keep that kind of information a secrect; you don’t share it with other companies.” “It was eye-opening. It’s an amazing culture. Cooperatives all over the state are willing to help each other. You don’t even realize this network exists until you’re a part of it.” Sams quickly moved from staff accountant into a more strategic role as manager of finance and administration and also handled human resources. Today, just over eight years down the road from when she started at the REMC, she is the REMC’s manager of marketing and strategy. The new role, which she’s been in for just over a year, includes working with the long-term strategic development with both the original electrical portion of the cooperative and its new broadband division. From her own experiences when she was the new kid on the cooperative block, she now works closely, too, with succession planning within the REMC. And, she strives to help other employees develop their leadership skills and grow from within the local REMC and through that broad statewide network that came to her aid. “People say the cooperative culture is all one big family,” she noted, and she agrees with that. “That’s because the cooperative truly tries to do the right thing. We want to do the right thing for our community and consumers, make good decisions on their behalf, and run the cooperative in a positive way.” CAREER SUMMARY Brittany Sams had a steep learning curve when she became the accountant at an REMC and the retiring accountant left just before she started, but a tight-knit network of employees from other REMCs mentored her through. Today, those experiences have put her into strategic management positions that help the cooperative better meet the needs of consumers and help its employees grow and develop, as well. TIMELINE October 2013 — Hired at LaGrange County REMC as staff accountant. Responsible for all accounting functions. January 2014 — Promoted to Manager, Finance and Administration. Responsible for a team of three; supervised all accounting functions and human resources. January 2021 — Became Manager, Marketing and Strategy. Responsible for a team of five; supervises all consumer accounting duties; strategizes, evaluates and creates department budgets and goals; creates, manages and implements marketing, communication and education programs for the electric and broadband divisions of the REMC; oversees human resources.

The third week of the 2022 session of the Indiana General Assembly is now complete. Check out this week’s update. Each week, we’ll give you an inside look at what happened at the Statehouse the previous week and how legislative actions can impact your local electric cooperative. To stay up to date on legislative matters that impact your cooperative, sign up to be an electric cooperative advocate today. https://action.indianaec.org/register-to-be-an-advocate/

Creating Connections and Expanding the Possibilities Many of you are probably familiar with the classic novel, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. In this story, the main character, Pip, is continually evaluating himself and his situation as he strives to improve and advance his station in life. The fundamental ideas of ambition and self-improvement are at the center of the story. Southeastern Indiana REMC is also continually evaluating its programs and services, ambitiously striving to improve the quality of life and place in southeastern Indiana. As we work through the strategic initiatives defined by the Board of Directors and management team, we continue to evolve and explore new ideas to create connections and expand the possibilities. As we begin a new year, we remain committed to our mission to safely provide reliable electricity and diversified services, while maintaining our values of integrity, accountability, innovation, and commitment to community. We also continue to focus on the ongoing strategic initiatives and priorities defined in our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan. We anticipate the completion of our headquarters facilities building project in late spring and look forward to moving into the new administrative building in June. Many of the plans we have put into place over the past couple of years are proving their effectiveness as we continue to see improvements in line loss and reliability in our electric division. As our world becomes increasingly connected, we are diligently working to break down the digital divide in southeast Indiana with our new fiber division. We began building a state-of-the-art fiber optic network and providing high-speed broadband internet service in 2021. SEI Fiber is now available in the Elrod, Versailles, and Hopewell areas and will soon expand to include the Jennings, Five Points, and Pleasant areas. The expansion of this project is top of mind for us, knowing that this service opens the door of opportunity for many new and emerging technologies as we move into the future. While the world continues to grapple with moving beyond COVID-19 and its effects, global supply-chain challenges, and the growing role of artificial intelligence, we will continue to seek solutions and define programs and services with our members best interests at heart. 2022 will be a year of great expectations and we look forward to creating new connections with our members and the communities we serve as we expand the possibilities together. Keith Mathews SEIREMC General Manager

Don’t add electrical hazards to your home office inbox During the pandemic, most office environments either closed and sent workers home to work remotely when and where feasible or created rotating work schedules. These changes were done to help mitigate the spread of the virus and keep workers safe. But setting up a temporary or full-time office at home can create a new kind of health issue — electrical safety. “Bringing electrical equipment home from the office or adding new equipment to make your home office fully functional can create some safety concerns of their own,” said Brandon Linville, Director of Operations at SEIREMC. “Take the same attitude toward electrical safety in your home office so you’re not trading concerns about the virus in the office for electrical and fire concerns at home.” Things to consider for a home office: Designate a place for your office space. Even if it’s just temporarily rearranging a home desk or a side table, establish a comfortable place for your laptop or desktop computer, printer, and whatever equipment you need. This will keep you from having to continually move equipment and will avoid stretching power cords that could become tripping hazards. If you bring older office equipment home, check those electrical cords and connections that perhaps have been pinched behind the credenza for years. Make sure they are not damaged or loose. Make sure outlets in older homes hold plugs snugly. Avoid circumventing the grounded three-prong plugs on your equipment with adapters to fit in older two-slot outlets. Do not overload outlets with multiple power strips. Avoid using extension cords for extended periods. Even if you’re using them temporarily, avoid long, flimsy, multiple outlet cords. Always unplug extension cords from the wall when you are not using the equipment. Do not run electrical cords through high-traffic areas, under carpets, or across doorways. Beware of equipment heating beyond normal operations. Beware of discolored plastic casings on the equipment or discolored outlet covers. Turn off all appliances at the end of the day to save energy and ensure added safety. If your home is older or you require many electrical devices, you probably should have a licensed electrician come out for an inspection. The electrician may suggest installing additional outlets, arc-fault circuit interrupters, and circuits to avoid overloading existing outlets and overusing extension cords and power strips. These updates will make your workspace more attractive, practical, and, most importantly, safe. Making your home safe for the office Overloaded electrical circuits pose both an electrocution and fire hazard. While most homes were not designed to be a home office, the Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends these steps to stay safe from electrical hazards: If you must use a power strip, use a name-brand product from a reputable retailer. Low-quality or counterfeit power strips may contain wiring that isn't adequate to carry the load. Place power strips where there is plenty of air circulation to disperse heat. Do not use adapters that allow plug-grounded cords (three-prong) to be used in ungrounded (two-slot) outlets. Do not bind, kink or knot electrical cords. Never run power cords under rugs or where chairs can roll over them. Keep cords close to a wall to avoid trip hazards. Keep all non-critical electrical items unplugged until you need to use them. Consider charging battery-operated devices in another area. If your computer screen flickers or fades, or you detect a burning smell, power down and contact an electrician. Make sure outlets are protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters if moisture may be present and arc-fault circuit interrupters for added protection. If your home office becomes permanent and needs more or upgraded outlets, have a licensed electrician conduct an inspection of your home office equipment’s electrical needs. Neatness counts when it comes to safety Many home offices were set up during the pandemic — some probably in spaces not originally intended for an office or even prolonged occupancy — like a nook in the attic, corner of a garage or basement or even a “she shed” in the backyard. To make the space comfortable, small portable air conditioners, fans, dehumidifiers or space heaters may be used. If so, here are a few reminders: Keep papers organized and all combustibles at least three feet from a space heater or other heat sources. Do not plug items like space heaters, A/C units and dehumidifiers into power strips or an outlet with other items. Make sure outlets are protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters if you are in an area that experiences dampness.

Christina Schoenherr Jackson County REMC Vice President of Human Resources A new world across the street When Christina Schoenherr and her family moved from suburban Philadelphia to her mother-in-law’s hometown of Brownstown, Indiana, the New Jersey native knew she was moving far from the life she’d always known. Fortunately, she didn’t have to travel far to find a job. Right across the street from her new home, Jackson County REMC was looking to replace a retiring customer service representative. The position would also take on the REMC’s first full-time human resources duties. Talk about serendipity: Christina held a master’s degree in HR. A neighbor, who also worked at the REMC, told Christina about it and suggested she apply. “I was in Indiana only for a few months … I didn’t know what a cooperative was,” she said. “Everything kind of fell into place. I couldn’t have planned a better move: a job doing what I just got a master’s in literally next door to my house.” There was a lot of acclimating, learning about cooperatives and the electric industry, she noted. But the small company aspect of the REMC was familiar to her, and she liked that. “Everybody here was so nice.” Since she was the first on-staff HR person, the cooperative’s manager asked her to tell him what an HR person did. “They had an HR job description,” she said, “but when I started, it was kind of like, ‘OK, you’ve done this before, and we haven’t. So, what do we need?’ “I’ve been very fortunate to be the first person in this position because I have been able to tailor it to the needs of the cooperative and my strengths,” she added. Christina just celebrated her 10th year at the cooperative. In those years she’s seen Jackson County REMC grow from 68 employees to now over 85. In addition, the cooperative added fiber internet services. Through the growth, Christina has maintained the same HR responsibilities, but the overall scope of her role has grown with the cooperative. “It’s just evolved into a staff level position. Instead of just day-to-day duties, I’m doing more strategic and special organizational level projects.” “A lot of times, when people think of the cooperative, they think of either customer service or linemen. And those are very important jobs here. But people forget that there is engineering and accounting and so much more. It is huge.” She added that cooperatives are just good places to work for young people wanting to stay in their community. “They’re small, and they’re families, and you can get involved in almost whatever you want.” And being based in smaller communities, the office, as Christina found, can be right across the street. CAREER SUMMARY New to Indiana, Christina Schoenherr was fortunate to find a job in her specialty — human resources — virtually across the street from her new home. Now the New Jersey native is serving in an expanded role to meet the needs of the growing cooperative and its consumers. TIMELINE October 2011 — Hired at Jackson County REMC as human resources specialist. Responsible for all HR administration functions and administrative support for the president/CEO and the board of directors. May 2018 — Human resources and marketing manager. Responsible for previous HR functions plus marketing and communication for the cooperative. May 2019 — Vice president of human resources. Responsible for all HR administration functions plus strategic planning initiatives, grant proposals, regulatory compliance reporting, and special project management.

CO-OP PROGRAMS HELP YOU DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON — AND BEYOND “The holidays.” I love everything about this time of year. During this time of reflection, I am grateful for my own family as well as my co-op family. At Southeastern Indiana REMC, we’re driven by a sense of mission and purpose. Our team feels a strong connection to our community and our members because we live here, too. While many community-focused programs and activities ramp up this time of year, we have several programs and services in place to help our members year-round. I’d like to remind you about some of these offerings in hopes you’ll find them beneficial. We hope you’ll take advantage of SmartHub, an app that empowers you to monitor, manage and pay your energy bill conveniently through your phone. Another service we offer is prepaid metering, which is intended to help budget your monthly energy costs. Southeastern Indiana REMC members can pay for electricity before it’s used, then use the electricity until the credit expires. We also offer energy efficiency programs to save you money and energy. Our Operation Round Up program helps groups and organizations with a variety of community-focused programs and projects. By simply “rounding up” energy bills to the next whole dollar amount, members are helping to improve “quality of place” in the communities we all live and work in. Quality of life is important. That’s why we take seriously our mission to safely provide reliable electricity and diversified services to the members and communities we serve. Programs such as our vegetation management and load management programs help us ensure system reliability, and diversified services such as our Generac generator and SEI Fiber services keep you comfortable and connected to work, home, school and each other. We also invest in our local youth in a number of ways. Southeastern Indiana REMC provides $1,500 in scholarships for local students each year. Through our Youth Tour program, we send high school students to Washington, D.C., for a week-long immersion to experience democracy in action. We also send middle school students to Camp Kilowatt at Camp Tecumseh in Brookston, Indiana, for traditional outdoor camp activities with environmental education, electrical safety practices and cooperative business education. At the heart of all of these programs is you — the members we proudly serve. Looking back, I’m grateful for so many wonderful community partners and for the positive impact we can continue to make. This holiday season, I wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and prosperity. Speaking on behalf of our team at Southeastern Indiana REMC, I know the future will be bright because of you. KEITH MATHEWS General Manager

Southeastern Indiana REMC’s 83rd Annual Meeting will be held at South Ripley High School on Saturday, March 26, 2022. Doors open and registration begins at 11 a.m., and the business meeting begins at 1 p.m. This event will return to the traditional in-person format, with a hybrid voting process for the director election which allows mail-in and online voting prior to the event and onsite voting during registration on the day of the event. Attending members will receive a free energy efficiency kit (while supplies last) and enjoy musical entertainment, live-line demonstrations, an energy expo, and an opportunity to win prizes. Food and beverages will be available for purchase, and there will be a separate children’s program during the business meeting.

The following members have been appointed to the 2022 nominating committee by the SEIREMC board of directors. District 4 Center, Hogan and Washington townships in Dearborn County; Randolph Township in Ohio County; and Posey and York townships in Switzerland County. Tammy Elbright 2511 SR 156, Rising Sun, IN 47040 812-584-2312 Donna Huber 2576 Miller Brick Lane, Rising Sun, IN 47040 513-519-3089 Colleen Perfect 4515 Smith Road, Rising Sun, IN 47040 812-584-5218 District 5 Cass, Pike and Union townships in Ohio County; Caesar Creek Township in Dearborn County; and Brown, Shelby, and Otter Creek townships in Ripley County. Lonnie Sparks 4523 W. Railroad Road , Holton, IN 47023 812-756-4107 Arlene Knudson 4163 N. County Road 800 W., Holton, IN 47023 812-621-0577 Rebecca Westerfield 5521 W. County Road 200 S., Holton, IN 47023 812-584-5324 District 9 Jackson, Johnson, Franklin, Center, Delaware and Washington townships in Ripley County. Larry Armbrecht 928 W. Tanglewood, Versailles, IN 47042 812-756-2141 Greg Evans 2696 N. County Road 200 W., Versailles, IN 47042 812-756-1454 Danny Geisler 191 W. County Road 450 S., Versailles, IN 47042 812-756-5317 Members interested in running as a director candidate in the 2022 director election should contact one of the nominating committee members from the applicable district. To be eligible, your primary residence must be located within the district you are running in.

If your white Christmas goes dark from an electrical blackout, an electric generator can be a great resource for homeowners, especially if the storm and damage is severe and the outage is prolonged. But small portable generators pose risks homeowners need to guard against: carbon monoxide poisoning, electrocution or electric shock, and fire. Risk #1: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Small generators use a combustion engine that usually burns gasoline or other liquid fuels. Like any gas-powered machine, these small engines produce carbon monoxide. To prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, keep generators outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents. Position your generator's exhaust away from your home and locate the generator downwind, if possible. Risk #2: Electrocution or Electric Shock To avoid the risk of electrocution, do not use a generator in rainy or wet conditions. It's also important to not handle the generator with wet hands to avoid electric shock. Before plugging appliances or electronics into your generator, make sure your generator is sized appropriately for the total electric load you want it to run. Make sure the cords all fit appropriately and are undamaged. To keep utility workers, neighbors and those in your household from electrocution dangers, never plug your generator directly into your home's wiring. "Backfeeding" sends power from the generator throughout your house in reverse and can even feed onto your electric utility's power lines. Workers attempting to restore power might unexpectedly encounter this high voltage, which could cause fatal shock. To prevent a "backfeed," have a professional install a transfer switch if you want your generator to run your home's electrical system during an outage. Risk #3: Burns and Fire When using a generator, store extra fuel in an American National Standards Institute-approved container in a cool, well-ventilated place away from fuel-burning appliances. Before refueling your generator, turn it off and let it cool. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite. Keeping these three risks in mind when installing or using your home's generator will aid in your safety, your home and others. Source: ESFI, Safe Electricity, Red Cross Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal-burning device inside a home, garage, basement, crawlspace or any partially enclosed area. Keep generators outdoors, away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors. Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent CO buildup in the home. Although CO can't be seen or smelled, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT DELAY. Install CO detectors in central locations on every level of your home and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide. Test the batteries frequently and replace when needed. If the carbon monoxide alarm sounds, move quickly to a fresh air location outdoors or by an open window or door. Source: Red Cross Generator Dos and Don'ts DO operate a generator outdoors in an area with plenty of ventilation. DO install CO alarms inside the home to provide an early warning of carbon monoxide. DO NOT plug a generator into the wall without installing a transfer switch to prevent backfeed. DO turn the generator on before plugging in appliances. DO NOT touch the generator with wet hands to avoid electrocution. DO turn off the generator before refueling with gasoline to allow it to cool down. DO NOT overload the generator. DO use a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cord rated at least equal to the sum of the connected appliances. DO NOT use a generator as a permanent solution. DO consult the owner's manual for your generator for specific safety instructions. Source: ESFI, redcross.org