But before you tackle those jobs around the house, before you dive into the DIY tasks, Country Energy is asking you to think twice about electrical hazards.

Take stock of the state of your power cords and extension leads, think about the position of underground cables if you are planning to excavate, look up and assess how close tree branches are to the overhead lines and consider the area you'll be working in, especially if it's damp and electricity is involved.

Country Energy's chief safety officer, Mark Mulligan said, "It's important that people are especially mindful of the dangers and implications of working with and around electricity".

"We all like the house and yard to look great when we entertain but before you lift a finger to do any job around the home always assess electrical hazards so the task at hand doesn't mean you miss out on any celebrations."

Electricity takes less than a second to pass from a powerline through an object to a person so a thorough assessment of work areas, especially outside prior to commencing a job - identifying the location of powerlines and any other electrical hazards that may be present - is recommended.

Equipment such as metal rollers, extension poles, aluminium ladders, metal scaffolding and hoists can all become conductors of electricity if contact with powerlines occurs.

Safer alternatives include non-conducting ladders made of reinforced plastics (without wire reinforcement, or with the wire reinforcement recessed and insulated) and wood or plastic brush, roller and cleaning extensions.

Contact Country Energy or professional tree trimmers for advice on pruning or removing trees with overhanging branches near powerlines, and qualified electrical contractors should be engaged to carry out any electrical work both in and outside the home.

Inside the home, keep extension leads well clear of high traffic areas where someone could trip, never keep electrical appliances in damp or wet areas, check electrical leads and cables for damage and don't overcrowd power points or piggyback double adaptors.

For further safety tips or information on Country Energy's safety program, call Country Energy on 13 23 56, visit www.countryenergy.com.au, or drop into one of our friendly Customer Service Centres.