LCEC – Lee County Electric Cooperative

Simple ways to save electricity during the holidays

December 17, 2019 – It’s that time of the year where we shop, eat, visit, bake, and just plain have fun. But with that fun can come a larger than expected electric bill in January! Take some time to add these simple ways to save into your holiday plans so you avoid a potentially ho ho ho-rrendous electric bill.

Give green:
Be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR® label when shopping for appliances and electronics this holiday season! This certification label was created by the U.S. Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to promise substantial energy savings.

LEDs are what you need:
Whether you decorate your home like National Lampoon’s Clark Griswold or just trim a simple Christmas tree, it is wise to invest in LED holiday lights. Not only do LED lights generate a lot less heat than traditional incandescent bulbs making them safer, they use nearly 75 percent less energy than incandescent and last up to 25 times longer!

Keep away grinchy energy vampires:
Unplug electronics and appliances when not in use or when going away for a vacation. Keeping things such as computers, gaming systems, toaster ovens, phone chargers, hair dryers, etc. plugged in may not account for a ton on your electric bill, but why not play it energy-smart and safe by unplugging these energy-sucking vampires when not in use.

For more ways to save on electricity 365 days a year, visit lcec.net. Happy holidays from LCEC!

Stay safe around electricity this holiday season

December 10, 2019 – While staying safe around electricity is important year-round, it is especially important to keep electric safety in mind during the holidays.

Inspect all decorations before use.
Damaged sockets, exposed wires and bad connections could cause electrical shock or even a fire! After inspection, use caution when plugging in your holiday decorations. Be careful not to overload outlets. If using incandescent lights, do not connect more than three strands as this could potentially blow a fuse, or worse yet, cause a fire. More than one hundred fires happen per year due to issues with decorative and holiday lights.

Keep your tree watered.
A dry tree is a fire hazard. Water your tree daily, and be sure to remove it from your home when it has died or immediately after the holiday is over. Hundreds of home fires start each year because of Christmas trees!

Choose battery-operated candles.
Invest in battery-operated candles which are much safer than normal candles. Normal candles cause nearly half of home decoration fires.

Protect cords.
Be sure to never pinch cords, hide them under furniture, place them near a heat source or secure them with nails or staples. Any of these could cause electric shock or a fire. Unplug all cords when not in use to stay safe while saving electricity.

Unplug when not in use.
Never leave holiday lights on when not home or while sleeping. It is estimated that half of all home fires happen between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.

For more tips on staying safe around electricity, visit lcec.net. LCEC wishes all a happy and safe holiday season!

Just say no to heating

December 3, 2019 – The weather outside isn’t quite frightful, but it is chilly for sunny SWFL! As tempting as it might be to switch on the heat at night, LCEC reminds customers that heating is the most intense use of electric energy and the most expensive electric appliance. On average, heating costs two to three times more than cooling. Rather than risking a high electric bill, bundle up with blankets or cuddle even closer with your favorite person or pet. If it is still too chilly for your Florida blood, you might consider investing in heating blankets and small portable heaters. Blankets and space heaters work well, but caution must be used and all the manufacturer instructions read before use. If all else fails and you are chilled to the bone and must turn on the heat, LCEC recommends setting the thermostat between 65 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. For more ways to save on your electric bill, visit lcec.net.