SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.— For many families, once the turkey has been devoured and the Thanksgiving parades and football games have been enjoyed, it’s time to start decorating for the next big holiday. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) reminds its customers to use Light-Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs for holiday lighting and to watch out for hazards while decorating and celebrating the holidays.
Not following proper safety precautions can increase the risk for fire, injury and electric shock. And, using older, non-energy-efficient lighting can increase power bills.
“We encourage our customers to stay safe while trimming the tree and decorating front yards during the next few weeks. Brightening our homes and communities with holiday lights is a great tradition, but we’d like to remind everyone to follow our simple safety tips to help make sure everyone has a safe and joyful holiday,” said Jess Brown, director of PG&E’s Local Customer Experience.
PG&E offers the following savings and safety tips this holiday season:
Safely Save Energy
- Light-Emitting Diode (LED) lights consume 75 percent less energy than traditional incandescent lights, helping customers save money on their energy costs during the holiday season.
- LED lights produce almost no heat, making them safe to touch and greatly reducing the risk of fire.
- LED lights are also break resistant and shock resistant.
Electric Safety
- Avoid overloading extension cords and wall sockets by following the manufacturer’s limits for the number of light strings that can be safely connected together.
- Check all light strands for cracked or broken plugs, frayed insulation or bare wires. Worn cords can cause fires, so discard damaged sets of lights.
- Don’t place cords under rugs, furniture or other appliances. If covered, cords can overheat or become frayed, increasing the risk of fire.
- Always turn off decorative lights—indoors and outdoors—when leaving the house and before going to bed.
- Do not place your holiday tree near a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, making it more susceptible to fires caused by heat, flame or sparks.
- Before climbing ladders to string outdoor lights, check for overhead power lines nearby. Be especially aware of lines over your roof and lines attached to your home. Look up before raising ladders and other tall objects. Keep at least 10 feet away from overhead lines at all times.
- Prior to stringing lights on outdoor trees, make sure tree limbs haven’t grown into or near power lines. Branches, entire trees and even the ground adjacent to a tree can become energized when trees contact power lines.
