ConnectionsWhat’s Inside

Page 2-3 “Missing Members”

Page 4 “Space Heater/ Electric Blanket

Safety”

December 2020

CTV Board of Directors approves $450,000 upgrade to the three CTV towers.

Watch channel 16.1 for updates on when each tower’s conversion will occur or follow your co-op’s Facebook page too. Different channels will be off during the day as each transmitter is replaced.

Two other benefits to these new transmitters includes using up to 45 percent less energy as they are more efficient, plus each transmitter features adaptive real-time correction of TV signal output. “This upgrade will resolve mechanical issues,” Horman added. “However, UHF TV signals will still be subject to the atmospheric conditions that cause signals to disappear during high humidity and summer mornings/evenings. As great at this technology is, we still cannot control the atmospheric conditions.”

CTV reminds viewers if you watch CTV, become a paying subscriber for $8 a month. This helps CTV with technology improvements like this and paying the bills. CTV will add the $8 charge to monthly electric co-op members’ bills or send out annual bills (12 months x $8 = $96) or seasonal bills 6 months for cabins (6 x $8 = $48) to others. Call your local electric cooperative to become a paying subscriber.

Godahl Frost JacksonCh 14-5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6 Ch 14-5.1, 5.5, 5.7 Ch 17-5.1, 5.5, 5.7Ch 16-9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.9 Ch 16-2.1, 2.4, 2.5 Ch 19-11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8Ch 23-9.1,9.2,9.3 Ch 19-9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.9 Ch 22-2.1, 2.4, 2.5Ch 26-2.1, 2.4, 2.5 Ch 23-23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4 Ch 28-23.1, 23.2, 23.3, 23.4Ch 29-2.2, 2.3, 2.6 Ch 29-9.1, 9.2, 9.3 Ch 29-5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6Ch 30-5.1, 5.5, 5.7 Ch 31-11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8 Ch 31-9.4, 9.5, 9.6, 9.9Ch 32-11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.8 Ch 34-5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6 Ch 34-9.1, 9.2, 9.3 Ch 35-4.1, 4.1, 17.1, 18.1 Ch 35-4.1, 4.2, 17.1, 18.1 Ch 30-41’s

24 transmitters at the Godahl, Jackson and Frost UHF TV tower sites will be upgraded in December. CTV is owned by four rural electric cooperatives, including South Central Electric, along with Brown County REA, BENCO Electric and Federated REA.

“Many of our existing transmitters were installed in 2009 under the ATSC 1.0 standard,” stated Ron Horman, South Central Electric general manager. “They were first generation technology and the

manufacturer no longer exists; we can no longer order parts for those transmitters. The new transmitters will have the ability to operate on either ATSC 1.0 and ATSC 3.0 standards. ATSC 3.0 future operation will be a more robust signal with higher resolution and better sound.”

The USA-manufactured transmitters were ordered in September and are expected to arrive in early December. If all goes well, the whole conversion at the three sites can be completed before year end. New transmitters will be installed mainly on Minneapolis-rebroadcasted channels. See the chart below for which channels will be upgraded at each tower with new transmitters.

Happy Holidays!Holiday Hours: Closing at 11a.m. December 24 – Closed December 25 and January 1, 2021.

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Help us find missing members.We’re unable to contact some former co-op members. They have moved off our system without leaving a forwarding address. Since, we no longer have their current address, their capital credit check was returned. If you know the location of any of these members please contact us or have them contact us with their new address.

ACCESS MARKETING INC .... STILLWATERDAVID AHLQUIST ................ HUTCHINSONSTEVE AISENBREY ............... PIEDMONTWES ALLEN ......................... COMFREYAMERICAN TELECASTING INC . LEESBURGBETTY L ANDERSON ............ SHERBURNBRETT ANDERSON .............. MT LAKEDAVE ANDERSON ................ MAPLE GROVEELEANORE ANDERSON ....... MADELIAELMER L ANDERSON ........... LAMBERTONGARY E ANDERSON ............. WINDOMMELISSA ANDERSON .......... ORMSBYROGER J ANDERSON ........... WINDOMESTEBAN ARMENDARIZ ...... BUTTERFIELDROBERT E AXFORD .............. WINDOMTOM BARKER ...................... SIOUX FALLSNORMA BARTSCH ............... ARCADIABASTIAN FARMS INC ........... SPRINGFIELDRONALD BAY ....................... MANKATOKEITH BENSON .................... WAITE PARKJEFF BERLIN ........................ ALBORNBILL BERTRAND ................... ROCHESTERCHAD BESEMER .................. NEW ULMSTEVEN J BEYER .................. WINDOMROGER BIESER .................... BRAINERDDAVID BLACKSTAD .............. MANKATOBRIAN BLEESS ..................... WANAMINGOFRED BLOM ......................... CANTONJASON BOECK ..................... BRAHAMJON T BONDHUS ................. SPIRIT LAKEWILLIAM BONIN ................. SAINT JAMESMARVIN BOTTIN ................. WINDOMDEWAYNE BRAKE ................ REDWOOD FALLSEDNA BRAY ......................... COMFREYANN BREHMER ................... ST JAMESDARWIN E BRIDGES ............ FRISCOJOEY J BUCHER ................... WINDOMARTHUR BUCK .................... SAINT JAMESGENE BUHLER ..................... LAGUNA BEACHLAURI BURGDORF ............... WASECAMERYL BURGESON ............. MADELIAJIM BURKHALTER ................ WINDOMLEE C BURMEISTER ............. TRIMONTJODI BURNS ........................ ATTALLACARGILL INC ........................ FARGOJOHN CARLSON ESTATE ...... TRIMONTGERALD O CARR ................. TURTLE LAKEJACK CARSTENS .................. WINDOMCELLULAR ONE .................... WINDOMKRIS CLAUSEN ..................... FULDAGARY COWELL .................... BUTTERFIELDMATT DANE ........................ MOUNTAIN LAKEBARBARA J DANIELSON ...... MANKATOKEITH DARMER ESTATE ....... WELCOMETIMOTHY DAVIS .................. TRUMANDESMOINES RIVER TELEMEDIA ...................... STORDENDERRY DETTMER ................ FAIRMONTDAVID DICK ......................... SAINT JAMESJEFFREY DOUGHERTY ......... MADELIADARYL DRAEGERT ............... SHOREVIEWDUANE J DRAKE .................. LAKE CRYSTALALDEN O DROIVOLD ........... WINDOMDUANE M STUSSE ESTATE ... TRIMONTGERALD ECKSTEIN .............. NEW ULMLORI EIKE ............................ MESABERNARD EISCHEN ............. COMFREY

WILBERT EISENMENGER ..... SHERBURNELWOOD ELG ...................... WINDOMHARRIS A ENG ..................... SAINT JAMESSTEVEN ENGELBY ................ MADELIAARTHUR ERICKSON ............. LAMBERTONGLENARD ESSIG .................. SPRINGFIELDLAYNE A EVERS ................... NEW ULMDENNIS FALK ....................... SANBORNKENNETH FIALA .................. MT LAKEDAN FINNEGAN .................. SIOUX FALLSMARGARET FINSTAD........... SAINT JAMESMARC FISCHER ................... JACKSONKIMBERLY FISK .................... BLUFFDENNIS C FREKING ............. HERON LAKEG & J AUCTIONS .................. WINDOMALFREDO GARZA ................. MOUNTAIN LAKEGERMANTOWN HALL ......... SANBORNDAVID GERSCH.................... SAINT JAMESKRISTINE GIERSDORF .......... VILLARDJIM GIESER .......................... LAKE CRYSTALSTEVEN K GIESER ................ DEERWOODMARGARET GILLESPIE ESTATE MADELIALINDA GRAVES .................... SAINT JAMESFAYE GREEN ........................ WINDOMKATHY GRUNEWALD ........... MOUNTAIN LAKEGLEN GUILLIAMS ................ EATONRAY HAACK ......................... STARBUCKJAMES E HAFFEY ................. DUNNELLDOROTHY HAGEN ............... SAINT JAMESTONY HAKEN ...................... WINDOMLOIS HANDEVIDT ................ ORMSBYWAYNE HANISH .................. JEFFERSDUANE G HANSON ............. HENNINGMICHAEL D HANSON .......... ESTHERVILLERONALD D HANSON ........... MADELIAJAMES S HARDER ................ BINGHAM LAKEKEVIN HARVEY .................... WINGATEDARIN HASLIP ..................... BRAINERDCLARENCE HASS ................. WESTBROOKGORDON HAYCRAFT JR ....... FLORENCEEDWARD D HAYGOOD ........ SHERWOODBRIAN HEGER ...................... WINDOMDONNA HENDERSON .......... COON RAPIDSDONALD E HENZE ............... MOUNTAIN LAKEBARB HEPP ......................... JEFFERSHERMAN RINNE ESTATE ...... SAINT JAMESRONALD HERMANN ............ MADISONLEONARD HILBRAND .......... NEENAHGRACE HILDRETH ................ ROSEMOUNTHILLTOP AUTO & TRUCK SALVAGE ............... NEW LONDONTOM HINCE ......................... LECENTERROBERT HINES ESTATE ........ BINGHAM LAKEHODGMAN & SONS ............ FAIRMONTDAVID R HOFFMAN ............ GENESEOTODD HOLLAND .................. ANNANDALEANN HOPPE ........................ MADELIASCOTT HOPPE ..................... ALPHAGORDON HOSE ................... SLEEPY EYEWAYNE HUBER .................... TRIMONTLAWRENCE E HUBERT ......... LAMBERTONRICHARD C HYDE ................ BINGHAM LAKEJOYCE IVERSON ................... CLOQUETDELBERT JENSEN ................ WESTBROOKJOHN JENSEN ...................... FAIRMONTJOHN MORRELL & CO ......... SIOUX CITYBUNNY JOHNSON ............... TRAIL CITYDAVID A JOHNSON ............. SOMERWORTHMICHAEL J JOHNSON .......... MANKATOVERNON E JOHNSON .......... SAINT JAMESPAUL JONES ........................ HADLEYBLAINE JORAMO ................. SAINT JAMESJAMES KALASH ................... WINDOMJOEL KAMERUD .................. CHASKALEE KANTEN ........................ ORTONVILLEDEBRA KAPITAN .................. PHOENIXLYLE KAPKA ......................... CLARION

RICHARD KARSCHNIK ESTATE . READINGVERNON KELIN ................... TRIMONTRONALD KELLY .................... TENSTRIKEED KIELTY ............................ GLENWOODARNOLD KING ..................... HERON LAKEJAMES S KING ..................... WINDOMC. K KISLINGBURY ............... MONTICELLOALLEN KLINKNER ................. LAKE CRYSTALMICHAEL KLOPP ................. BURNSVILLECRAIG KNUTSEN ................. JACKSONALAN KOEKKOEK ................. WESTBROOKRON KREMMIN ................... FARIBAULTARLEN KRONBACH .............. DODGE CENTERDUANE KRONBACH ............. LAMBERTONPETER KROSCH ................... BLUE EARTHROGER KRUMREY ............... LEWISVILLEJAY KUEHL ........................... WINDOMKERRY KVAM ....................... TUCSONARDITH M LANGLAND ........ LAKEFIELDALAN LARSEN ..................... GLENCOEDARLENE LARSON ............... SHERBURNEDWARD LARSON ............... ST JAMESJOEL LARSON ...................... BELLE PLAINEMARK LARSON .................... ANCHORAGEROBERT D LARSON ............. PEQUOT LAKESED LAVELLE ......................... SIOUX CITYSANDY LAWRENCE .............. ST PAULJARED LESCH ....................... JEFFERSSCOTT LINDE ....................... WELLSDON LINDEMANN ............... SAINT JAMESDEAN LOHRE ....................... NEVADAJOHANNE LUNDBERG ......... BUTTERFIELDJULIE LUNZ .......................... BUTTERFIELDROGER LUNZ ....................... SAINT JAMESSTEVE LYLE .......................... FAIRMONTDANIAL MAERTENS ............ FERGUS FALLSNANCY MARSH ................... WINDOMBRAD MARTIN .................... APPLE VALLEYLYNETTE MARTIN ................ SAINT JAMESCHARLES MARTINSON JR .... LAMBERTONSHARYN MARTINSON ......... GARVINNORRIS MATTISON ............. LAMBERTONSCOTT MATTISON ............... CANISTOTAVICTOR MAUSLING ............. MOUNTAIN LAKECRYSTAL MCDONOUGH ...... NO MANKATOPATRICK MCLEOD ................ MANKATOTERESA MCMULLEN ........... LEWISVILLEDENISE MCWILLIAMS ......... CANYONROD E MELINSKY ................ ABERDEENTROY MENKE ...................... BLAIRMIDWEST WIRELESS COMM LLC MANKATOMILDRED J. PIERSON ESTATE .. SIOUX FALLSJEFF MINOR ........................ LEXINGTONJEFFREY MISSLING .............. FARGOMICHAEL MONTEMURNO .. MANKATOMARK MORRIS .................... BRUCEROBERT MOSSER JR ............ BUTTERFIELDANDREW MURPHREE ......... BINGHAM LAKEBARRY NELSON ................... MADELIATERRY F NEUMAN ............... MINNEAPOLISCLINTON NICHOLS .............. WINDOMNICKEL BROS & JAMES WOLF . PLYMOUTHJAMIE NICKEL...................... PLYMOUTHALADEEN NOREN ................ SAINT JAMESNORTHWEST GAS COMPANY ..WAYZATAAL NUTT .............................. FAIRMONTODIN SPORTSMEN’S CLUB .. MOUNTAIN LAKEBRIAN OLSON ..................... TRIMONTDORIS OLSON ..................... HOUSTONGAYLE B OLSON .................. NEW ULMKENRICK OLSON ................. TRIMONTKURT OLSON ....................... SHERBURNMICHAEL B OLSON ............. MANKATOSTEVE K OLSON ................... MADELIATED OSTROWSKI ................. MOTLEYALBERT PABST ..................... SANBORN

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SCEA Water Heater ProgramSCEA’s peak shave water heater program provides members with a Marathon water heater at a discounted price for participating in the load management program. The cost for water heaters is $450. This is a great value for members. SCEA pays the cost of the electrician to wire the water heater and radio control. The member would pay any costs incurred by a plumber.

South Central Electric 2020 REBATE PROGRAMS

Recipient must be a South Central Electric member. Any checks or credits will be made in the name or account of the member. The program will end when funds are exhausted; additional rebates may be added at a later date. The completed applications will be processed on a first come first served basis as they are received in our office. Rebate applications can be requested by calling the St. James office or available on line at www.southcentralelectric.com.Appliance Rebates: Please see rebate applications for details. MUST BE AN ENERGY STAR® APPLIANCE TO QUALIFY.

Dehumidifier ................................. $20 Credit applied to the energy billAir Source Heat Pumps ................. $500 - $800Ductless Heat Pump ..................... $500 - $800Ground Source Heat Pump ........... $400/tonAir Conditioner Tune Up .............. $30Managed Electric Heat .................. $20/kW Radio controlled, qualifies for discount of $.031/kWh on system usage. Stored or dual fuel heat. Heat pumps are not eligible for this program.Commercial and Industrial Rebates: Rebates are available on a custom basis. Rebates will be based on kW reduction on retrofit projects. To be eligible for a rebate the project must have a minimum savings of 1kW. We do not have rebate programs for new construction. Call SCEA for information on these rebates.

JERRY PALMER .................... ORMSBYEVELYN PANKONIN ............. WINDOMLARRY PEDERSON ............... FULDAMARVIN PEDERSON ............ WESTBROOKJENNIFER PENNER .............. MANKATOGRACE PETERSEN ............... SAINT JAMESSCOTT PETERSEN ................ PARK RAPIDSLEON PETTERSON ............... KASOTAANGEL PIEDRA .................... SAINT JAMESLISA PIERSON ...................... SAINT JAMESRON PREUSS ....................... JACKSONHERBERT PRITCHETT .......... MT LAKEMOIR QUINN ...................... FAIRMONTMICHAEL RAMSEY .............. MT LAKERAPHAEL’S RADIATOR & WELDING ...................... MANKATODWIGHT RASMUSSEN ........ LAS CRUCESGORDON RASMUSSEN ....... MADELIABILLY J RATHMAN ................ IRETONMARTY RAY ......................... NORTH MANKATOROBBIE REINER ................... MT LAKEIRENE REMPEL .................... SAINT PAULVAUGHN RICE ..................... FAIRMONTDONALD C RICHARDS ......... FAIRMONTRITA RINDERLE .................... YORKSHIRERAYMOND RITZ ................... TRUMANMATTHEW ROBINSON ........ MAPLETONGORDON ROHRS ................. PAULLINAFRED RUCH ......................... HASTINGSELEANORA E RUPP .............. SPRINGFIELDRUPP LANDS ....................... MAPLE GROVESANBORN FARMERS ELEVATOR ........................ SANBORNMARJORIE SANDMANN ...... NEW LONDONMARK SANDMEYER ............ ST JAMESDENNIS SANDS ................... NICHOLASVILLEBENJAMIN SATHER ............. RICHMONDJAMES SCHAEFER................ STORDENJONATHAN SCHAFER .......... SHERBURNROGER SCHAFER ................. FAIRMONTRUTH SCHAFER ................... THIEF RIVER FALLSRICHARD SCHEIBE ............... SAINT JAMESSCHMIDT LAND TRUST ....... BRANDONTODD A SCHMIDT ............... MT LAKEPAT SCHMITT ...................... LAMBERTONSHARON K SCHMITZ ........... BUFFALOMIKE SCHNEEBERGER ......... MADELIALINDA SCHOMBERG ............ CEYLONDOUGLAS SCHROEDER ....... JEFFERSJULIE SCHROEDER ............... LEWISVILLELOWELL SCHULTZ ................ DUNNELLQUENTIN SCHULTZ ............. PRIOR LAKEVERNON E SCHULTZ ............ APPLE VALLEYSCHULZ FARMS ................... ALPHAJAMES SCHULZ .................... SAINT JAMESDAVID J SCHWARTZ ............ STILLWATERC W SCURR ......................... EDINAJIM SEHL ............................. SLAYTONJOHN E SELLAND................. MADELIAMAYLEA SELTUN ................. TRUMANSEVENTY-ONE CLUB ............ WINDOMRITA SHAMP ........................ WINDOMHAROLD E SHELSTAD .......... FAIRMONTPATRICIA SJOQUIST ............. PETALUMAOSCAR O SMITH.................. WINDOMHEIDI SPIDAHL .................... ST JAMESGARY SPILLUM .................... SIOUX FALLSKEVIN SPORS ...................... WINDOMST JAMES AUTOMOTIVE ..... SAINT JAMESMARK STANLEY ................... TRIMONTKATHLEEN STARK ................ MESABOB STAUFFER .................... MADELIAGINA STEELE ....................... TRUMANDAN STENZEL ...................... HERON LAKEJEFFREY STEPHENS ............. JEFFERSTODD STEUBER ................... FAIRMONTQUINTEN STREICH .............. COMFREY

JIM SULLIVAN ..................... LAKE CRYSTALHARLEY SYKORA .................. WINDOMNATHAN TEMPEL ................ DEXTEREARL D THIESSEN ................ INVER GROVETHOLE’S TURKEYS ............... MAPLETONMICHAEL THOMAS JR ......... HERON LAKELARRY THRUN ..................... TRENTONJULIA TIBODEAU ................. EDEN PRAIRIEMARY TILDEN ..................... NEW ULMTODD TISH .......................... SHERBURNKEVIN B TODD ESTATE ........ MADELIAROGER TOTMAN ................. MANKATOAMY TRULLINGER ............... MADELIADAVID ULMEN .................... MADELIAUNITED TELEPHONE CO. ..... LEESBURGDARIN VAGLE ...................... ALPHAGERALD VAGLE ................... WINDOMCAROL VALERIE ................... LAMBERTONKEVIN VOGEL ...................... BRAINERDDAWN VOLZKA ................... REDWOOD FALLSOPAL WAHL......................... WINDOMLYNN WALLACE ................... DELAVANDONNA WARE .................... WESTBROOKLUVERNE WARLING ............ MISSIONLYNNE WATERBURY ............ TRUMANTOM WATERS ...................... DODGE CENTER

WATONWAN COUNTRY CLUB . SAINT JAMESLEROY WELLMAN ............... NEW PRAGUERICHARD WELTON .............. STORDENTIM WEST ........................... MANKATOWESTERN WIRELESS ........... LITTLE ROCKTROY WESTMAN ................. SAINT JAMESSCOTT WETTER ................... RIVERSIDEDANIEL WHELAN ................ ALDENRICHARD WIENS ................. WINDOMARTHUR WIGGINS .............. WESTBROOKSTEVE WILKE ....................... MILTONAWILLABY BROTHERS ........... MOUNTAIN LAKEGUY WILLER ........................ PENNOCKLEE W WILLIAMS ................ ABERDEENM K WILSON ....................... SANBORNWINDOM RADIO INC. ......... WINDOMWINDOM READY MIX INC ... WINDOMRON WOLLSCHLAGER ......... BUTTERFIELDTODD WOODS .................... KANSAS CITYROY YATES ........................... HUTCHINSONLORRAINE B YKEMA ............ MADELIAED YONKER ......................... GAYVILLEKEITH ZBASNIK .................... SHERBURNROBERT ZIMPIRCH .............. RED WINGFRED ZISHKA ....................... WORTHINGTONSCOTT ZWIEFEL ................... ROBERTS

Official monthly newsletterSouth Central Electric

71176 Tiell Dr., PO Box 150St. James, MN 56081-0150

(507) 375-3164 Outages: (888) 805-7232

E-mail address: sce@southcentralelectric.com

Web: www.southcentralelectric.com

Office hours: 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Ron Horman, General Manager

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.If you wish to file a Civil Rights program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter to us by mail at U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or email at program.intake@usda.gov.

Board of DirectorsMark Sandberg, President

Ron Jorgenson, Vice PresidentMike Miest, Secretary

Brad Asendorf, TreasurerBrent Imker, Director

William Kunz, DirectorMatt Peters, Director

The Board meets the fourth Tuesday of the month at South Central Electric’s building at

71176 Tiell Dr., St. James, MN.

Please see our website for a summary of the board meetings.

www.southcentralelectric.com

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Use Space Heaters and Electric Blankets Safely This WinterNothing can put chills down your spine quite like winter weather creeping its way through every crack of your home. In order to save money and stay warm, many chose to turn down the heat and plug in space heaters or electric blankets. While these products may be a simple solution from the cold, the Safe Electricity program warns that they can also cause fires if caution is not used.

Safe Electricity offers the following tips for safely using space heaters and electric blankets:

Always remember to turn off space heaters and electric blankets when not in use. Never leave one of these devices on unattended or after going to bed.

To learn more on how to avoid electrical hazards, visit SafeElectricity.org.

• Read and follow all space heater and electric blanket instructions.

• Check space heaters and electric blankets before use. Cords should not be frayed, brittle, or cracked. The blanket should not have any charred or dark areas.

• One of the biggest causes of fires is one of the most easily avoidable. Many fires start when flammable products are placed too close to heating devices, such as space heaters. Space heaters should be kept at least 3 feet from blankets, clothing, paper, and other flammables.

• Place space heaters out of high-traffic areas and on a level, hard, non-flammable floor surface—NOT on carpets, furniture, or countertops.

• Look for a space heater that has guards from heating elements and automatically shuts off if it is tipped over or overheating.

• Do not attempt to warm your entire home using space heaters. Space heaters are useful in small areas, such as a study or living room. However, if you need to keep large areas warm, your home heating system will do the job more efficiently.

• Plug space heaters directly to the outlet, and never use an extension cord. • Only use electric blankets with an automatic shut off designed to prevent the

blanket from overheating. • Pets should never be allowed to sleep on top of electric blankets. • Electric blanket wires should never be bent or tucked under a mattress. • Replace old or damaged electric blankets. • Choose a space heater or electric blanket with a safety certification. You should

look for the UL, ETL, or CSA mark on the device. These verify that the product has been tested and is safe to use.