Tampa Electric offers holiday lighting safety and savings tips

Tampa Electric offers holiday lighting safety and savings tips

Switching to LED lights can mean big savings-86 percent when lighting a 6-foot tree

TAMPA, December 3, 2018

As folks deck the halls in coming days, Tampa Electric would like to offer a few handy tips for a safer, more energy-efficient holiday season.

Consider investing in energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) lights. LED lights have dropped in price in recent years and are now available in many colors and styles. LEDs produce very little heat, so they reduce the risk of a fire and are safer than incandescent lights. They are also more durable.

And, since they use less energy, LEDs will save you money. Our team of energy experts ran side-by-side evaluations of 600 LED and non-LED mini lights-enough for a 6-foot tree. To light the tree for 6 hours a day for a month, the non-LED mini lights will cost about $4.50, while the LED mini lights cost just 60 cents.

At Tampa Electric, where safety is a top priority, we offer these additional tips for your home during the holidays:

• Make sure your holiday lights and cords are in good condition (no broken lights or frayed cords).
• Never string holiday lights on or near power lines. When using a ladder, take extra time to set it up properly on stable ground. Look above your head before climbing the ladder to ensure you are not near power lines.
• Never place electric cords under a rug or door, or around a sharp edge or corner. Keep all cords away from high-traffic areas in your home.
• Never use indoor lights outside, and don't overload electrical outlets.
• Be sure to turn off holiday lights before going to bed or leaving home - or use a timer, so it can do the work for you.
• Make sure a reliable testing laboratory, like the Underwriter's Laboratory, has inspected your holiday lights.
• If you have a natural Christmas tree, make sure it has enough water to keep branches from drying out, which can pose a fire hazard.

For additional safety tips, please visit us online at www.tampaelectric.com/safety.

Tampa Electric, one of Florida's largest investor-owned electric utilities, serves about 750,000 customers in West Central Florida. Tampa Electric is a subsidiary of Emera Inc., a geographically diverse energy and services company headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

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