PG&E provides methods to save holiday lighting costs and avoid safety hazards

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Holiday lights illuminate the home, but they also increase energy costs, and if not handled properly, they can also cause fire hazards. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) provides customers with safety and energy efficiency reminders to integrate into the festive atmosphere.

PG&E's vice president of residential services and digital channels, Chris Zenner, said: "We are focused on helping our customers make their holidays bright, safe and efficient." "We hope that all our customers will use this information to spend a safe and happy holiday. ."

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), almost one-third of home Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems. Although Christmas tree fires are not common, once they occur, they are more likely to be serious.

For a fire-safe holiday, make sure that the trees are at least three feet away from any heat sources, such as fireplaces, radiators, candles, vents, or lights. In addition, buy flame-retardant metals or artificial trees. For real trees, make sure that there are fresh green needles on the tree that are not easy to break. Remember to water them every day to keep the live trees as moist as possible.

In addition to possible safety risks, older non-energy-efficient lighting can severely affect customers' monthly energy bills. Standard incandescent holiday lights, including mini lights, use more energy and may require frequent bulb replacement. LED lights are more expensive to purchase, but use much less energy and can provide bright light for up to 20 holidays.

According to the PG&E test, based on the current residential electric non-CARE rate, the average cost of a string of 300 large incandescent lamps operating for 225 hours (45 days, 5 hours per day) per year is US$135.08, and the annual operating cost is US$0.83 at the same time The LED 300 counts the string in the segment.

Here are other tips to ensure customer safety during the holidays:

More energy saving methods

To learn more about ways to save this holiday, visit pge.com/saveenergy.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is an integrated natural gas and electric company serving more than 16 million people covering 70,000 square miles in northern and central California. For more information, please visit pge.com and pge.com/news.