News Releases

Use holiday lighting safely, Xcel Energy recommends

MINNEAPOLIS - The holiday season is here again, and Xcel Energy recommends the following safety tips when hanging holiday lights:

• Use electricity safely and wisely. Plan decorating and lighting ahead of time to reduce any potential safety hazards.
• Use only Underwriters' Laboratory-approved lights, and follow the manufacturer's instructions for indoor and outdoor lighting.
• Before placing holiday lights outside on your house or in trees, look up to locate any overhead power lines, then keep all objects such as ladders and extension poles more than 10 feet away. Never toss lights near or across an overhead power line.
• Check the cords on strings of lights and replace any that are frayed or worn. Discard all that are in poor condition. Also check for loose connections and damaged plugs or light sockets.
  Plug in lights before stringing them to determine whether any bulbs are burned out.
• Unplug lights before hanging them, and unplug them when asleep or away from home
• Avoid attaching too many light strings together and plugging them into one receptacle. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions for recommended maximum number of strings per receptacle.
• Keep lights away from combustible materials, including draperies.
• Keep lights away from metal railings and banisters, which can become energized if the wire has a short circuit. Avoid stringing lights along aluminum siding, which can conduct electricity. Never use lights on metallic trees.
• Make sure rooftop decorations don't block vents or vent pipes.

 
Xcel Energy wishes everyone a safe holiday season.