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News Release
 Orlando Utilities Commission
November 26, 2007

Contact:

Sheridan Becht | Erika Hodges


Decorate Safely, Efficiently This Holiday Season

ORLANDO – Light up your home or business this holiday season without breaking the bank. Decorating with energy efficient LED (light-emitting diode) strands instead of traditional lights can save money, reduce hassles and lessen the risk of fire.

Although LED light strings may cost more to purchase initially, they use less energy and last longer than standard incandescent holiday lights. LED bulbs are more durable: They are shatterproof and shock resistant and have a life span of more than 50,000 hours when used outdoors and more than 100,000 hours indoors.

LED lights produce almost no heat, making them safe to touch and greatly reducing the risk of fire hazard over traditional bulbs.
 

More Safety Tips

Help make your holidays happy and safe this season by following these tips from OUC:
  • Before stringing outdoor lights, check for overhead power lines. Look up before raising ladders or other objects and keep at least 10 feet away from overhead lines.
  • If stringing lights on outdoor trees, make sure tree limbs haven’t grown into or near power lines. Branches or entire trees can become energized if they contact a power line.
  • Make sure lights used to decorate the outside of the house are approved for outdoor use. Also, check that all lights contain the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label, which means they meet UL safety requirements.
  • Check all light strands for cracked or broken plugs, frayed insulation or bare wires. Worn cords can cause fires. Discard damaged sets of lights.
  • Route cords inside your home so they don’t pose a tripping hazard. Do not place them under rugs, furniture or appliances. Covered cords can overheat or become frayed and can cause a fire.
  • Don’t overload extension cords or electrical outlets. Follow the manufacturer's limits for number of strings that can be safely connected together.
  • To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks.
    • • Never pull or tug lights to remove them.
  • Always turn off tree and decorative lights – indoors and outdoors – when leaving the house and before going to bed.
  • Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to protect against electric shock. Portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold. A qualified electrician can install GFCIs permanently to household circuits.
 For more great tips on holiday electrical safety, space heaters and more, visit the Electrical Safety Foundation International web site.
 
Established in 1923 by a special act of the Florida Legislature, OUC—The Reliable One is the second largest municipal utility in Florida. OUC provides electric and water services to more than 200,000 customers in Orlando, St. Cloud and parts of unincorporated Orange and Osceola counties.