For Release: 11/30/2009

Make the Holidays Warm, Bright - and Affordable

Houghton, MI - January often brings larger bills of all kinds because of the extra celebrating that goes hand-in-hand with holidays near the end of the year. UPPCO suggests that a little planning could help keep your January electric bill from being an unpleasant surprise.

A major reason energy bills are often higher in January is the extra lighting, cooking, and entertaining you do over the holidays. These activities increase the enjoyment of the season, but they can also increase your electric bill - whereas planning ahead could help you manage your usage and keep costs within a range that works with your budget.

UPPCO has some suggestions to help manage your energy costs while you're celebrating. First, you can find energy-saving tips and savings calculators at www.uppco.com that may help you manage your electric bill. There are also other Web sites for information on managing energy bills, including the Focus on Energy Web site and the U.S. Department of Energy site.

As you plan your holiday lighting, it's easy to compare operating costs using the Holiday Lighting Calculator. Just click on the items relating to your planned display, and the calculator will figure the cost for you. For example, a single string of 100 mini-lights, on for 6 hours a day during the entire month of December, will cost $1.19 to operate. The same string of LED lights for the same amount of time will cost 12 cents, and a single string of 25 of the older standard larger C-7 bulbs will cost about $2.97. The new LED lights may cost a little more to buy, but the savings could be worth it, especially for more elaborate lighting displays.

UPPCO also suggests using a timer so that holiday lights aren't left on all night. A timer can be set so your lights automatically operate for the three to five hours you're normally awake to enjoy them.

Holiday Gift Idea

UPPCO is again offering Energy Gift Certificates in any dollar amount. They can be used to pay all or a portion of the recipient's electric bill and are a one-size-fits-all solution for nearly everyone on your holiday list, as long as they're an UPPCO customer. You can find simple instructions for ordering at www.uppco.com or call UPPCO at 800-562-7680.

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