ARTICLES

Generators Safety Tips and Guide

UNDERSTANDING YOUR ELECTRICITY BILL

Yes, the first step is to ensure you are on the Utility billing system

(in this case PHCN). Some people think they are smart when they

prefer bribing officials rather than getting and settling their

electricity bills, if only they know how much they are being shortchanged!

Many people who even have a bill just collect it and only consider

the .PAY TOTAL DUE NOW., then complain that NEPA or PHCN is

wicked. Do you really understand how your electricity bill is

structured? Let.s consider that now.

WHAT ARE THE INFORMATION ON YOUR BILL

1. Account No

This is the number that your Utility company (PHCN) gives to

you and it is peculiar to you alone. However, if you stay in a

building of several apartments owned by a single Landlord, the

different bills may carry the same name but the account

numbers will be different.

Hence, you need to identify and make sure you make payment

on the bill that bears only YOUR OWN ACCOUNT NUMBER.

2. Name

This is the name of the account(s) holder

3. Service Address.

This is address of the place being billed.

4. Due Date

Date reflecting the point up to which you are being billed from

the previous month

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5. Meter No

The serial number on your energy meter.

6. ADC

Average Daily Consumption

7. DIALS

The number of digits that will be read from your meter

8. Previous balance

Outstanding debt/credit from the previous month

9. Adjustment

Adjustments made on your bills by the Utility company to correct

either under-billing or over-billing

10. Net Arrears

The Outstanding balance after the necessary adjustments have

been made.

11. Description

This determines what you are being charged for an a monthly

basis and is as follows:

I. ENERGY

II. FIXED

III. METER MAINT

ENERGY

This is computed from the following parameters:

a. Tariff Code- this determines the rates on which your bill will

be based and is basically structured into four parts for non-

MD customers:

• Single Phase Residential Tariff -------------- R1 or R2

• Three Phase Residential Tariff --------------- R3

• Single Phase Commercial Tariff--------------C1

• Three Phase Commercial Tariff---------------C2

These are the basic categories available, though there might be

some other subdivision as determined by the utility company for

certain areas.

So check your bill, are you placed on the right tariff. If You are a

Single Phase Residential Customer and instead of R1 or R2 you

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have C1 on your bills, then it means you are being billed higher

than what you are using, because C1 is for commercial

customers and has a higher rate than R1 & R2.

b. Read Date

Shows the date the present readings recorded on bill was taken

c. Present Reading

Shows your meter reading against the date as recorded by your

utility company

d. Previous Reading

Shows your Meter reading for the preceding month

e. Multiplier

The multiplying factor which essentially would have a value of 1

as long as the accuracy of your Energy meter is not in doubt

f. Consumption

This is the difference between the Present and Previous readings

multiplied by the multiplier to give the value of the total units of

electric energy used for the month

g. Current Charges

Is the product of the Consumption above and applicable Tariff

rate

FIXED

This is the fixed charges the electric utility charges monthly as

long as you remain a customer of the company. It does varies

for the various tariff structures but it is fixed.

METER MAINT

This is also another fixed charge that PHCN introduced some

couple of years back. Though many people have queried the

introduction, as the meter maintenance services it is supposedly

meant for, is never carried out and customers still pay for

Energy Meters, the METER MAINT still remains on the bill and

presently fixed on N100 and N500 for single and three phase

customers respectively.

12. OTHERS

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The other vital details on the bill include:

LAR- last actual readings which gives the readings and date your

Meter was physically read and the readings used in the

processing of your bill.

Your tariff structure rate

Reconnection fee, if your supply is disconnected as a result of

default in bill settlement.

BENEFITS OF A PREPAID METER

Thank God, the prepaid metering scheme is now in the

country. Rather than rejecting the meter, please accept them

and replace all existing analog meters with these. The prepaid

meters gives the following benefits:

• No one needs to read your meter before you are billed.

• You don.t need to search for or wait for your energy bill

again.

• You can determine and control how much you spend on

monthly electricity bill.

• As long as the meter is not tampered with (and you

wouldn.t do such because it is a crime to do so) you have

no business entertaining PHCN official in your place.

• No one dare threaten you with disconnection notices and

attempts. The fear of getting back home and meeting

your electricity supply line disconnected from the pole is

over.

• No need for fear of theft as the meters are programmed

for every customer uniquely.

• What more, you can even purchase in your name even

when you are in a rented apartment .cos the meter can

be transferred when you move to another location

without stress. Just inform the Utility company and let

everything be done formally and according to procedure.

• When power fails the meter doesn.t bill you, and as long

as electric supply is off, your money is not deducted

• The cost of acquiring the meters can also be spread

across months, making it easier for you to purchase. This

is an arrangement though for customers who are

receiving bills but have no meters installed due to theft,

damage or unavailability of the meters in the past

HOW TO ENSURE SAFE AND CONTINOUS POWER SUPPLY.

• STOP DOUBLE FEEDING ON ELECTRICITY LINES.

You double feed when you take supply from two different

transformers substation to the same premises at the same time.

Most people who do this do not realize the harm and the damage

this causes.

1. It has caused the electrocution of Electric Utility workmen

2. It has caused the total breakdown of transformers substations

causing total darkness in some localities

3. It has caused dangerous voltage in some place destroying

appliances.

4. It is a very good catalyst for fire out-break

Another hazardous practice very similar to this is when electric

generator is connected directly to the mains House wiring

without an effective change-over switch. This is explained more

under the Generators section pg----

• ENSURE PROPER ISOLATING DEVICES FROM THE MAINS

POWER SUPPLY ARE IN PLACE AND EASILY ACCESIBLE.

Many people just connect supply from the pole without ensuring

that standard Cut . out fuses are provided in easily accessible

position. Should there be a problem that could make the incoming

supply undesirable; the point of isolation from such supply should

be easily reached.

Also on the basis of cost implication most people do not appreciate

the need for fused or mcb.s distribution boards for household

wiring. This is wrong and should be corrected.

• AVOID IMPROPERLY TERMINATED CONNECTIONS.

It is a common eyesore these days to see quack and unqualified

personnel connect supply lines, cables and electrical circuit without

properly securing such, tightly. You can even see some of these

people use a stick to remove a line from one phase to another or

just patch up a connection once power supply becomes available.

This abnormality is one of the major ingredients for voltage

fluctuations, electrical arcing and fire outbreak. It also does harm

to connected appliances

• AVOID USING SUBSTANDARD ELECTRICAL MATERIALS.

Money spent on sub-standard electrical materials, end up going

down the drain and you end having to pay all over again at higher

cost because of damage such materials would have caused. When

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it comes to selection of electrical fittings and gadgets, please do

not .economize., because in doing so, you shortchange yourself and

open up your installation to deadly risks.

• NEVER USE AN UNDERSIZED CABLE

When you begin to feel your cable grow continuously warm and

getting hot, know that that heat is also energy being wasted and

you are paying for it. So if the cable is expected to deliver 100W of

electricity but it is becoming unduly hot in the process know that

more energy is being used up.

Secondly, the insulation of such a cable begins to break down and

such cable should be replaced with another one of higher capacity

to avoid disaster.

Generators Safety Tips and Guide

• Never plug a portable electric generator into a regular

household outlet. NEVER try to power the house wiring by

plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as

.back-feeding.. This is extremely dangerous and presents an

electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by

the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the

built-in household circuit protection devices.

Don’t overload the generator.

Do not operate more appliances and equipment than the

output rating of the generator. Overloading your generator

can seriously damage your valuable appliances and

electronics. Prioritize your needs. A portable electric generator

should be used only when necessary, and only to power

essential equipment.

• Connect appliances to the generator using heavy-duty

extension cords that are specifically designed for

outdoor use. Make sure the wattage rating for each cord

exceeds the total wattage of all appliances connected to it.

Use extension cords that are long enough to allow the

generator to be placed outdoors and far away from windows,

doors and vents to the home or to other structures that could

be occupied. Check that the entire length of each cord is free

of cuts or tears and that the plug has all three prongs. Protect

the cord from getting pinched or crushed if it passes through a window or doorway.

• Carbon Monoxide Hazards

When used in a confined space, generators can produce high levels of CO within minutes. When you use a portable generator,

remember that you cannot see or smell CO. Even if you do not

smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO.

Danger labels are required on all portable generators manufactured

or imported on or after May 14, 2007.

If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get

to fresh air RIGHT AWAY. DO NOT DELAY. The CO from

generators can rapidly kill you.

Follow these safety tips to protect against CO poisoning.

NEVER use a generator inside homes, garages, crawlspaces,

sheds, or similar areas, even when using fans or opening

doors and windows for ventilation. Deadly levels of carbon

monoxide can quickly build up in these areas and can linger

for hours, even after the generator has shut off.

• Follow the instructions that come with your generator. Locate

the unit outdoors and far from doors, windows, and vents that

could allow CO to come indoors.

• Install battery-operated CO alarms or plug-in CO alarms with

battery back-up in your home, according to the

manufacturer.s instructions. CO alarms should be certified to

the requirements of the latest safety standards (UL 2034, IAS

6-96, or CSA 6.19.01). Test batteries monthly.

• Use the proper power cords.

Plug individual appliances into the generator using heavyduty,

outdoor-rated cords with a wire gauge adequate for the

appliance load. Overloaded cords can cause fires or equipment

damage. Don’t use extension cords with exposed wires or

worn shielding. Make sure the cords from the generator don’t

present a tripping hazard. Don’t run cords under rugs where

heat might build up or cord damage may go unnoticed.

• Read and adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions for

safe operation.

Don’t cut corners when it comes to safety. Carefully read and

observe all instructions in your portable electric generator’s

owner manual.

• To prevent electrical shock, make sure your generator

is properly grounded.

Consult your manufacturer’s manual for correct grounding

procedures.

• Generators pose a risk of shock and electrocution,

especially if they are operated in wet conditions. If you

must use a generator when it is wet outside, protect the

generator from moisture to help avoid the shock/electrocution

hazard, but do so without operating the generator indoors or

near openings to any building that can be occupied in order to

help avoid the CO hazard. Operate the generator under an

open, canopy-like structure on a dry surface where water

cannot reach it or puddle or drain under it. Dry your hands, if

wet, before touching the generator.

Do not store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator

while it’s running.

Gasoline (and other flammable liquids) should be stored

outside of living areas in properly labeled, non-glass safety

containers. They should not be stored in a garage if a fuelburning

appliance is in the garage. The vapor from gasoline

can travel invisibly along the ground and be ignited by pilot

lights or electric arcs caused by turning on the lights. Avoid

spilling fuel on hot components. Put out all flames or

cigarettes when handling gasoline. Always have a fully

charged, approved fire extinguisher located near the

generator. Never attempt to refuel a portable generator while

it’s running.

• Turn off all equipment powered by the generator before

shutting down your generator.

• Avoid getting burned.

Many generator parts are hot enough to burn you during

operation.

• Keep children away from portable electric generators at

all times.

• Purchase a generator that has circuit breakers.

• Read and follow the manufacturer.s directions.

• Use properly sized, three-prong extension cords that

are in good condition to plug in electrical equipment or

appliances. Make sure the cords do not become hot. Heat

indicates an overload and must be corrected immediately by