{"id":18760,"date":"2012-12-07T11:07:42","date_gmt":"2012-12-07T01:07:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=18760"},"modified":"2026-01-21T12:53:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T02:53:00","slug":"safety-tips-for-christmas-lights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2012\/12\/07\/safety-tips-for-christmas-lights\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety Tips For Christmas Lights"},"content":{"rendered":"

December 7, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

With Christmas lights starting to appear on homes and businesses across regional Queensland, Ergon Energy is urging customers to keep electrical safety and energy efficiency top of mind.<\/p>\n

Executive General Manager Operations Peter Billing said Ergon Energy did not want to see the festive mood dampened by unsafe electrical practices leading to dangerous incidents.<\/p>\n

\u201cNor do we want to see customers caught by surprise by higher power bills in the New Year as a consequence of the enjoyment their decorations have provided for the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Billing said Christmas lights should be used only as directed by the manufacturer, especially when erecting displays outdoors.<\/p>\n

“Ergon Energy recommends that only extra low-voltage equipment be used outdoors where it is exposed to the weather,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cChristmas lighting must be installed in a safe manner so circuits are not overloaded, while any electrical work needs to be done by a qualified electrician.<\/p>\n

\u201cFestive lighting that has been stored for 11 months has been subject to heat, humidity and possibly insects or rodents, so it should be checked thoroughly by a qualified electrician before being re-used.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs additional safeguards, Ergon Energy recommends fitting an approved safety switch to all Christmas lighting installations and that they are turned off when going to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Billing said customers should also check for any product recalls affecting their Christmas lights at the electrical safety website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

He noted recalls were in place for Christmas lights purchased from some major retailers.<\/p>\n

Mr Billing also reminded residents that Christmas lights and decorations must not be attached to Ergon Energy assets, such as power poles or stay wires.<\/p>\n

Mr Billing said that with festive lights and displays becoming more elaborate, it was also timely to consider their potential impact on power bills.<\/p>\n

\u201cCustomers can enjoy the spectacle of Christmas and keep the cost to a minimum by adopting Ergon Energy\u2019s energy saving tips,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

These include:<\/strong><\/p>\n