When storm activity increases, there is always a chance that your electrical system in your home is in danger. In fact, a storm can be the cause of your electrical system if your system isn’t up to par. The following are three potential electrical hazards that a storm can turn into a nightmare.

No one understands the how lightning has so much power. And, no one knows where lightning will strike when it hits. During a storm, it is possible for lightning to strike your home, causing a surge of electricity to go through your home. If this happens, then it is possible to short your electrical components and cause damage to your home’s electrical system.

Summer days are the time to be outside enjoying the sun and warmth. Kids love to play outside and take advantage of their days being free. However, in our very technological world, kids tend to be “plugged in” a lot. All those electronic toys can be great fun, but as adults know, electronics and water don’t mix. Water play is a big part of summer. It is important to teach kids some important lessons about enjoying summer days outside around electricity. A Los Angeles electrician has a few tips to help you keep your kids safe this summer. You can rely on The Electric Connection to provide you with more information should you need it.

*Trees that are near power lines should never be climbed. Parents should point out the power lines near trees and explain how a falling branch could catch a live line and cause serious injury.

*Avoid building tree houses or raised play houses around power lines.

*If you have a backyard pool, make sure the electrical outlets are far enough away from the pool that there is not an electrocution hazard. Educate the kids about bringing in the gadgets that may be plugged in. This applies to the hot tub as well.

*Ensure there are enough outlets outside for any appliances to avoid running extension cords across the patio or yard. If you need more outlets, contact an electrician. Los Angles homeowners can have additional outlets installed outside to accommodate your electrical needs.

*Discourage children from throwing anything at power lines or utility poles.

*Remind children kites should only be flown in areas that are free of power lines.

*Children should never attempt to climb utility poles.

These tips can help save lives. Always set a good example when working around electricity. If you have any questions or would like to have outdoor outlets installed, give The Electric Connection a call today.

A home battery can solve a lot of problems. With enough storage, you can buy electricity when it's cheapest, then dole it out when you need it. Plus, you'll be protected in case of a blackout. Until very recently, the technology for a practical home battery system wasn’t powerful enough to keep the average home humming. However, several companies are now producing or developing home batteries that can change the way we power our residential electrical work.

High Generating Costs at the Margins

Many areas of the country are shifting toward variable time-of-day pricing models for utilities, in which electricity typically costs more during the day and less at night. Utilities want to incentivize daytime conservation because they need to meet the demand at any given time or risk brownouts. Since demand is much higher during the day, utility companies needs to bring on extra generating equipment, which is expensive. The more they can smooth out demand so they can produce similar amounts of electricity around the clock, the lower the overall costs will be.

That's where batteries come in. There's no way around consuming more power during the day – that's when Americans typically use their electrical work to power air conditioning, televisions, computers and other appliances. However, with enough home storage capacity, you can purchase electricity at night and store it in your home battery until you need it. That way, you pay less, the utility can ameliorate its variable demand problem, and everybody wins.

Competition Hits the Market

Tesla Motors was one of the first companies in the home battery field with its Powerwall, but now other competitors are swiftly preparing to hit the market. Currently, LG Chem and Samsung SDI are working on their own battery models, with LG Chem's product projected to be available in North America before the end of the year.

Globally, the home battery market could grow nearly tenfold, from $388 million today to $3.2 billion by 2020, according to Business Korea. The home battery field is poised to grow hand-in-hand with that of batteries for electric cars, since the technologies have a lot of overlap – in fact, some experts project that electric cars themselves will soon serve a second function as an energy storage unit for your home. They won't be as practical as stand-alone batteries for many families, since the cars are liable to be away from home during the day when the electricity is needed, but they can add capacity in an emergency.

A Helping Hand for Your Storage Capacity

We're just at the start of what promises to be a revolution in home energy storage options. For more information about what home batteries are available in your area, or if you need any other residential electrical work, contact an expert electrician today.