Have you noticed a sudden spike in your electric bill? Or has your bill gradually increased month-over-month? Whatever the problem you’re facing, an increase in electricity costs is never fun—so we want to help you make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep your electric bill as low as possible. Most families waste energy…
Every year, there are nearly 50,000 home fires caused by poor home electrical safety. Between 2007 and 2011, house fires caused $1.5 billion in property damages and claimed 455 civilian lives. About half of these fires were caused by lighting equipment and outlet failures. The other half of home electrical fires involved major appliances, like…
As a DC or Maryland resident, electricity and natural gas are deregulated, giving you the option to choose your energy suppliers. Virginia residents can choose their natural gas supplier, but electricity is not deregulated in the state.
Most Maryland, Virginia, and DC homeowners pay little attention to their main electrical circuit panel until something goes wrong, such as a tripped circuit breaker. However, when the areas around your outlets have darkened and/or heat is coming off of your main circuit box, these can be indications that something is wrong with your wiring…
Have you ever noticed a small spark when you plug an appliance into an outlet? This may be normal or it could be cause for concern, depending on the size and frequency of the electrical outlet sparking. It’s important to recognize the difference between a normal spark and a dangerous one—as well as possible causes…
A house fire starts every 85 seconds in the United States, the majority of which are caused by malfunctioning electrical systems. Just the thought of a fire starting behind your walls while you sleep is terrifying. Fortunately, most electrical emergencies manifest themselves in more subtle ways before they end up causing a catastrophe. The secret is to…
Does it feel like there’s never enough outlets in your home? If your guests always ask where they can charge their phones or your family has hardly enough space to charge all your smartphones, tablets, and laptops, you’re not alone. This is a problem many homeowners face as they rely on technology more and more…