National Electrical Safety Month: Your Guide to Checking Electrical Hazards in Your Home
May is National Electrical Safety Month, making it the ideal time to check the systems that homeowners rely on every day. Electrical hazards often develop quietly through overloaded circuits, aging panels, or outdated outlets until they become costly or dangerous problems.
Electric vehicle home charging stations are an important part of your EV purchase, so it’s important to learn all you can about this facet of your new automobile to ensure a safe, fast, reliable charge.
Established in 1994, Mr. Electric® is a global franchise organization providing electrical installation and repair services. Recognized by Entrepreneur magazine among its “Franchise 500,” Mr. Electric franchisees provide these services to both residential and commercial customers at almost 200 locations worldwide. Mr. Electric is a subsidiary of the Neighborly® family of service franchises.
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Closing Thoughts
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This completes our U.S.-wide circuit of home electric spending in each U.S. state. As we've explored the ups and downs of the cost of energy, we hope we've also sparked a deeper understanding of the power of place and how it impacts monthly electric bills.
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As your trusted electric services provider, Mr. Electric is dedicated to helping you stay current on energy trends and find ways to optimize your electricity usage. For more insights, tips, and tricks to manage your energy costs or to browse our extensive services, be sure to visit our website. Also, don't miss our enlightening blog post on exactly how much money you can save by turning off lights.
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Let's work together to make a bright and energy-efficient future a reality!
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Methodology
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To determine the amount of electric usage by household by state per month, we first collected all necessary data points from the U.S. Energy Information Administration for every year from 2012 to 2021. From there, we calculated the total per household kWh use by dividing total residential kWh sales by the number of households in that state based on the Census Bureau data for the given year. Next, we uncovered the cost per household by multiplying the total kWh used by the average retail price (cents/kWh). Finally, we divided that number by 12 to estimate the average monthly household electricity cost for every state each year from 2012 through 2021.
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"custom_s_heading":"Get Organized and Label Your Electrical Panel",
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"custom_t_content_summary_Desc":"Knowing which areas of your home are serviced by which circuit breakers is crucial in case of an emergency. You never",
"custom_t_content_summary_Image_url_alt":"A person adds a white label that says kitchen to a black circuit breaker on a gray electrical panel.",
"custom_t_heading":"Get Organized and Label Your Electrical Panel",
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Mr. Electric explains how to organize and label your electrical panel for safety and convenience.
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Turn off all breakers and test circuits.
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Map each circuit by turning breakers on one at a time.
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Label each breaker clearly with its corresponding area.
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Create a master panel directory for easy reference.
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Knowing which areas of your home are serviced by which circuit breakers is crucial in case of an emergency. You never know when you might need to shut off the power. Labeling your electrical panel can save time and confusion during a crisis.
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If you open your electrical panel and can’t make heads or tails of it, check out this panel primer before you try to label anything. Then, grab a friend, and get ready to get organized by labeling your electrical panel.
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How to Label Your Electrical Panel
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With each circuit breaker accurately labeled, you’ll be able to quickly control the electricity flowing to any area of your home or business with the flip of a switch.
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Here are some tips from Mr. Electric® to label an electrical panel safely…
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Partner up. Designate one person to check lights and flip switches in each area of the home or business, while the other remains at the electrical panel. This is the most efficient way to handle the process.
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Buy some blank sticky labels to apply on each switch, or use a label maker. Either of these options is easier than taping small strips of paper to each circuit breaker.
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To begin, turn on all the lights in the home or building.
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Then, turn off every circuit breaker in the electrical panel (but not the master switch). To do this, you will typically push each switch all the way toward the outer edge of the electrical panel.
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Then, turn on one breaker at a time by pushing one switch toward the middle of the panel and note which room’s light fixtures turn on. Label the electrical panel accordingly.
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If you turn on a switch and no lights illuminate, the circuit breaker may serve an appliance or other dedicated circuit. Test outlets with a small lamp or handheld device to see if power is flowing.
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Large appliances such as clothes dryers, washing machines, water heaters, and ovens often require double pole breakers due to the high amount of power they require. For these appliances, you may need to label two breakers for one device.
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If a breaker doesn’t appear to be working, improper wiring or a broken circuit breaker could be the issue. Contact your local Mr. Electric if this happens.
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Contact Mr. Electric for Help with All Electrical Issues
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This process can be time-consuming and a bit frustrating, but labeling your electrical panel will be worth it in the end! If you need your electric panel labeled or if you want electrical panel upgrades, contact your local Mr. Electric or call today.
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"custom_dt_modified":"2025-07-08T07:19:33Z",
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"custom_s_heading":"Important Things to Consider If Your Business Needs Ballast or Bulb Replacement",
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"custom_t_content_summary_Desc":"If the lights in your business are on their way out, making a change to your ballasts or bulbs may offer you tremendous opportunity.",
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"custom_t_heading":"Important Things to Consider If Your Business Needs Ballast or Bulb Replacement",
"custom_t_content":"
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Mr. Electric outlines key steps for safe and efficient ballast or bulb replacement in commercial settings.
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Assess lighting needs and compatibility before replacement
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Turn off power and follow safety protocols
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Choose energy-efficient bulbs and quality ballasts
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Properly dispose of old components per regulations
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Consult professionals for complex installations
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If the lights in your business are on their way out, making a change to your ballasts or bulbs may offer you tremendous opportunity. There’s a lot to consider when selecting the right ballast and bulb combination, however, and the decision you make today will affect your business for years to come.
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There’s more to choosing lighting than replacing that faulty ballast.
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The right lighting can result in substantial savings on your monthly energy costs, of which lighting accounts for nearly 35 percent. The right lighting can also reduce maintenance needs, improve productivity, and reduce your carbon footprint.
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Watts up?
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Watts measure the amount of energy required to light a bulb. Today, however, bulbs are measured in lumens, or the amount of visible light produced. Why? It all boils down to efficiency. Opting for ballast and bulb combinations that are more efficient than yesterday’s incandescents offer a superior return on investment.
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Halogen
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Twice as efficient as incandescents.
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Commonly used for outdoor applications such as stadium and security lighting.
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Fluorescent
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Use 1/5 to 1/3 as much electricity as incandescents.
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Last 10 times longer.
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The most commonly used form of commercial lighting.
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Opting for a newer, electronic ballast provides more efficient, flicker-free operation than magnetic predecessors.
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Today’s T8 systems far surpass yesterday’s T12 systems in efficiency.
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T5 systems may offer a suitable replacement for HID/Metal halides.
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CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light)
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Miniature version of fluorescents.
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Quick and easy energy saving replacement for incandescents in standard light sockets.
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HID/Metal Halide
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3-5 times more efficient than incandescents.
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Lasts 20 times longer.
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Produce large quantities of very bright light for warehouse and industrial applications.
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Purchasing/installing specially designed reduced wattage metal halide lamps may provide sufficient lighting while reducing energy consumption.
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LED (Light Emitting Diodes)
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Use 75 percent less energy than incandescents.
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Lasts 35-50 times longer.
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Multi-functional.
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Going beyond the bulb…
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There’s more to upgrading your lighting than simple bulb and ballast replacement, however. According to the SBA (Small Business Association), technology plus effective design equals performance and energy savings. Screwing in more efficient bulbs are a great start, but not enough if you want the whole package. Ballast selection and lighting design are essential to getting the most bang for your lighting buck. For this, you’ll need the help of a Mr. Electric® lighting professional to coordinate:
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Ballast or fixture selection
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Finding the most efficient technology to meet your application needs and/or style.
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Ballast and fixture placement
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Including taking into consideration ceiling height, spacing, glare, light distribution, and task plane height.
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Overall appearance and brightness
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Including taking into account room finishes - paint colors and types that will improve lighting quality.
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And more…
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From safety considerations to integration with other building systems
No matter what type of lighting your business utilizes, from LED indoor lighting solutions to landscaping and security lights, Mr. Electric has your covered. Contact Mr. Electric and discover the many ways new lighting can brighten up your business today.
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Other Related Blog Topics
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"custom_t_heading":"Home Electrical System Upgrade for EV & EV Charger",
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Mr. Electric outlines essential steps for upgrading your home’s electrical system to support electric vehicle charging.
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Assess your current electrical panel’s capacity
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Consult a licensed electrician for a professional evaluation
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Install a dedicated EV charging circuit
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Upgrade wiring and outlets as needed
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Schedule regular maintenance for safety
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Electric vehicle home charging stations are an important part of your EV purchase, so it’s important to learn all you can about this facet of your new automobile to ensure a safe, fast, reliable charge. Charging your voltage-powered vehicle by plugging into a standard 120-volt electrical outlet is possible — though in some cases, your system may not be up to the challenge, and in others, you may be wasting precious time. Should you consider a home electrical system upgrade for EV and EV charging? Although it is not necessary, an upgrade can be worthwhile in certain cases …
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Is Good Enough, Good Enough?
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Most modern electric cars can plug into a standard 120-volt outlet, but upgrading your system may be necessary for safety and time savings. You adjust your car mirrors for maximum visibility and safety, why not perform a quick safety check on the state of your home charging setup, verifying its suitability with the help of a qualified electrician?
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Houston, We Have a Problem
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When performing electric vehicle charging at home, dimming lights and repeated circuit breaker tripping are sure signs of insufficient electrical service for meeting your charging needs – a common issue in homes more than 20 years old. According to studies, vehicle charging at 9.6 kW can double or triple your home’s prior peak electrical load, creating problems with insufficient power supply throughout the day or night as you charge. In addition to providing safer, more reliable charging, addressing these insufficiencies with a home electrical system upgrade for EV and EV chargers can vastly improve the safety and speed of the recharging process.
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Home Electrical System Voltage for Electric Cars
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Same Old, Same Old — AC Level 1 (120V/15A): A 120-volt outlet is capable of providing a ‘Level 1’ charge via a standard, 3-prong household plug/outlet combo, but requires a dedicated branch circuit for the safety of your system and home appliances and electronics. With this method, it takes 8-12 hours for a full charge, adding 2-5 miles of driving range per hour of charging time.
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The Bigger, The Better — AC Level 2 (240V/30-70A): ‘Level 2’ charging via a larger, 240-volt AC plug and receptacle requires the installation of special home charging equipment and a dedicated circuit – but cuts down vehicle charge time to 3 to 6 hours, or 10-60 miles of driving range per hour of charging time. Bonus: Your local government or utility provider may offer incentives and rebates for the installation of this equipment – and you can customize your setup, with features ranging from timers and status lights to smartphone connections and keypads.
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Supercharged — DC Fast Charging: DC fast charging stations can recharge an electric vehicle in as little as 20-40 minutes. However, as these stations typically require both specialty equipment and electrical service upgrades due to greater electrical draw, they are more often seen at public stations along traffic corridors, workplaces, apartment buildings, and retail locations. Though these systems face unique installation challenges, from parking and electrical access to legal and zoning concerns, they are a great way to attract customers/workers/residents and are also eligible for an array of rebates/incentives/tax credits.
This blog is made available by Mr. Electric for educational purposes only to give the reader general information and a general understanding on the specific subject above. The blog should not be used as a substitute for a licensed electrical professional in your state or region. Check with city and state laws before performing any household project.
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