News Release

Dec. 7, 2006

HOLIDAY LIGHTING TRIVIA 1882: An associate of Thomas Edison’s was the first to use electric lights to decorate a Christmas tree. 1895: First Lady Frances Cleveland uses electric lights for the first time to decorate the White House Christmas tree.

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Tips for Safe and Energy-Efficient
Holiday Lighting from PNM

Albuquerque: PNM offers tips to help make decking the halls or a Christmas tree with brightly glowing lights both safe and energy-efficient.

“By making energy-efficient holiday lighting choices and following a few simple steps, customers can save on holiday electric bills and stay safe, ” said Dan Moore, a certified energy auditor with PNM.

LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights offer an economical and environmentally friendly option because they use much less electricity than traditional incandescent holiday lights.

LED lights use about .04 watts per bulb, which is ten times less than regular mini-lights that use about .4 watts per bulb and 175 times less electricity than traditional bulbs (typically labeled C-7 or C-9) that use about 7 watts.

Efficiency can add up to savings. A string of 100 LED lights used six hours each day costs approximately 6 cents to run per month, as compared with 58 cents for 100 mini-lights or $10.25 for large, traditional lights. That savings could add up over time because LED lights last for many years. LED lights are also safer than their incandescent counterparts because they emit less heat.

Before stringing up any holiday lights, Moore recommends inspecting them for frayed wires, damaged sockets or cracked or missing insulation that could create a fire hazard. Do not use or keep sets that are damaged.

Additional Lighting Safety Tips

• Use only newer lights that have thicker wiring and are required to have safety fuses to prevent the wires from overheating.
• Holiday lights should carry the seal of approval of a recognized safety-testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Indoor-use only light strings are marked with the UL's green holographic label, and light strings for indoor and outdoor use have the UL's red holographic label.
• If using an extension cord, makes sure it is rated for the intended use.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• When using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use and plug them in only ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected receptacles.
• Turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
• Install or adjust outdoor electrical displays only during dry weather.
• When hanging lights around your roofline or in trees, be sure to survey the area for overhead power lines and maintain at least a 10-foot distance.
• Keep all electrical connections off the ground and hang sockets downward to prevent water from seeping into them.
• Do not run electrical cords through door or window openings where they can be damaged.

Visit PNM.com for more information about energy efficiency and safety throughout the year.

PNM is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, N.M. PNM provides electric utility service to 426,000 customers and natural gas service to 481,000 customers in New Mexico. The company also sells power on the wholesale market in the West. PNM Resources stock is traded primarily on the NYSE under the symbol PNM. For more information, see the company's Web site at PNM.com.