Energy Efficient LED Lights this Holiday Season

News Release

Dec. 12 , 2007

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Energy-Efficient LED Lights
Are a Bright Idea this Holiday

Albuquerque: PNM encourages shoppers to save money by considering energy efficiency when making their holiday lighting choices.

Consider LED (light emitting diode) holiday lights that use a fraction of the energy required by regular mini-lights and traditional bulbs. LED lights are tiny semiconductor chips that light up when electricity passes through them. Since LEDs aren’t light bulbs and have no filament, they stay cool to the touch – potentially reducing the risk of fire.

LEDs cost a little more to purchase but they last longer than traditional lights, perhaps twice as long. Putting holiday lights on a timer also helps to keep bills down.

Light Bulb Type	Number of Lights	Energy Use per Bulb	Average Operating Cost per 100 Hours*
C-7/C-9 (traditional)	100	6 watts	$4.71
Mini-light	100	0.48 watts	$0.38
C-7 light Emitting Diode (LED)	100	0.08 watts	$0.06

*Using PNM residential rates

While sprucing up the house for holiday entertaining, consider switching out traditional light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). Changing just ten bulbs could shave as much as $41 off annual energy bills. PNM is working with many local retailers to make significant discounts on CFLs available right now.

Visit PNM.com/rebates to learn more about PNM energy-saving programs.

PNM is a subsidiary of PNM Resources, an energy holding company based in Albuquerque, N.M. PNM provides electric utility service to 435,000 customers and natural gas service to 487,000 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.