Duke Energy, which provides electrical power to much of Indiana, has some suggestions to help everyone be safe and save money as they decorate their homes for the holidays.
On average, holiday lighting costs just pennies a day. However, elaborate displays that use large incandescent bulbs can add as much as $80 to a monthly power bill, depending on the number of bulbs and how long they are lit each day.
“That’s a huge difference, especially if you’re not expecting it,” said Gianna Manes, Duke Energy senior vice president and chief customer officer. “There are so many energy efficient options available today that even the most elaborate display can fit into anyone’s budget.”
For example, six sets of 100 large incandescent bulbs plugged in six hours a day can add up to $80 to an energy bill. The same style bulb that uses a light-emitting diode (LED) rated at 65 watts would increase the electric bill by only about $7 a month. Using mini lights will reduce the cost increase even further – to about $1 a month.
To help customers estimate their holiday lighting cost, Duke Energy has added a calculator to its website. Residential customers can access the calculator online by visiting www.duke-energy.com/holidaylights.
For customers who prefer to run manual calculations, the formula is:
Wattage ÷ 1000 = kilowatts
Kilowatts X total hours of use per day = kilowatt-hours (kWh)
KWh X $0.10 (average residential costs per kWh) = total cost per day per string of lights
Total light sets X daily cost per set X 31 (days in December) = Average Cost
Example: Using one set of the 100 count mini incandescent bulbs = 40.8 watts:
40.8 watts ÷ 1000 = 0.04 kilowatts
0.04 X 6 hours = 0.24 kilowatt hours
0.24 kWh X $.10 = $0.02448 cost per set per day
$0.02448 X 31 = $0.75888 per set for the month
$0.75888 X 6 = $4.55 for six sets used six hours a day everyday in December.
Energy efficiency tips
With colder temperatures, people will be turning on their heat for the first time since last winter.
“The thermostat is the real culprit of a higher December bill, so we encourage customers to select the lowest comfortable setting when they’re home and then bump it down a degree or two when they leave,” said Manes, Duke’s chief customer officer.
Other money-saving tips include:
• Have heating or cooling equipment checked each and every season by a qualified technician to make sure it is operating properly.
• Change air filters. This should be done every month throughout the year.
• Make sure heat registers and vents are not blocked by draperies, furniture or rugs or holiday decorations. These vents should also be cleaned regularly with a vacuum or a broom.
• Take advantage of natural solar heat. On sunny days, leave the draperies open to allow the sun’s rays to warm the house.
Safety tips
• Before installing lights, check each set – new and old – for damaged sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.
• Never use more than three standard-sized sets of lights per extension cord.
• Exterior lights should always be plugged into a ground fault interruptible (GFI) outlet. If the home’s outside outlets are not GFI, contact an electrician to have them installed.
• Before climbing a ladder, inspect it to ensure it is in good working condition and respect the weight limits designated on the ladder. Ladders that must lean against a wall or other support should be angled so the horizontal distance from the top support to the foot of the ladder is about one-quarter the working length of the ladder. Never use a ladder for any purpose other than the one for which it was designed.
• Never use a ladder on or near power lines.
