Holiday lighting tips to stay safe and save money

The arrival of the holiday season may bring with it the increased chance of fire and costly energy bills. NV Energy recommends the following lighting tips to help customers save energy and decorate safely this season:

Switch to safe, long-lasting, energy-efficient LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights whenever possible. Technology has come a long way and you can’t tell the difference between older bulbs and LED bulbs. LEDs also use 90 percent less energy, are cooler and last longer than non-LED lighting.

Use a timer to turn off lights during daylight hours and other specified times.

Don’t overload your electric circuits. Check fuses or circuit breaker panels to see what your home can handle, and stay well within the limits.

Don’t run extension cords under rugs, around furniture legs, or across doorways.

Outdoor lighting should have insulated electrical cords and be plugged into a ground fault interrupter-protected receptacle only.

Never use electrical decorations on metal trees.

NV Energy, Inc. provides a wide range of energy services to 1.3 million customers throughout Nevada and nearly 40 million tourists annually. NV Energy, Inc. is a holding company whose principal subsidiaries, Nevada Power Company and Sierra Pacific Power Company, are doing business as NV Energy. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas. Information about NV Energy is available on the company’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via nvenergy.com.