LAS VEGAS, Nev. - During this holiday season, NV Energy recommends the following holiday lighting conservation and safety tips.  By following the recommendations outlined below, energy consumers will be able to make safer and more cost-effective decisions with holiday lighting.

Top Ten Holiday Lighting and Safety Tips

1. 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.

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

3. 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.

4. Adhere to manufacturer’s designations and locations of use (indoor vs. outdoor).

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

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

7. Keep all plugs and connectors off the ground, away from puddles and sprinklers.

8. Make sure there’s a bulb in each socket of a light string even if it is burned out.

9. Keep your natural tree well-watered to prevent bulbs from igniting dry branches. Never use electrical decorations on metal trees. 

10. Last but not least, ensure that the electrical setup is safe from small children and pets.

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 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, Nevada. Information about NV Energy is available on the company’s website, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, which can be accessed via nvenergy.com.