Customers can reduce energy use by switching from older incandescent holiday lights to LED decorations, which use up to 90 percent less energy, last significantly longer, stay cooler and reduce the risk of fire. Using programmable timers ensures lights aren’t left on all night, while advanced power strips can eliminate standby energy loss, particularly helpful for inflatables, some of which can add up to $12 per month to an energy bill.

Safety is an equally important part of holiday decorating. Eversource reminds customers to inspect all lights and extension cords before use and to discard any with cracked sockets, frayed wires or loose connections. When decorating outdoors, customers should always look up and stay far away from power lines, never raise ladders or lift objects near overhead wires, and ensure that any lights used outside are clearly labeled for outdoor use. Extension cords should never be placed under rugs or tightly coiled, as they can overheat, and outdoor decorations should always be plugged into GFCI outlets with cords kept off the ground and away from moisture.

Hosting and cooking for the holidays can also increase energy use, but small changes can help. Lowering the thermostat before guests arrive can make homes more comfortable when combined with body heat and oven warmth. Customers can save even more by waiting until the dishwasher is full before running it, air-drying dishes when possible, covering pots and pans while cooking, and choosing smaller appliances like toaster or convection ovens, which use significantly less energy than a full-size oven.

Discover more holiday decorating, energy efficiency and electrical safety tips.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is recognized as the #1 U.S. utility on TIME’s List of World’s Best Companies for 2024. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 2.2 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.58 million electric customers in 159 communities, 647,000 gas customers in 125 communities, and 12,000 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of more than 10,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 Energy Efficiency Provider in the Nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.

CONTACT:
Olessa Stepanova
781–441–8952 
olessa.stepanova@eversource.com

Kaitlyn Woods
508-895-4888
kaitlyn.woods@eversource.com