Christmas is definitely one of the favorite seasons for Texas residents. The festive spirit, heartwarming traditions, and joyful atmosphere are something that individuals of all ages in Texas do. Texas homes are covered with red, green, and white lights with their yards decorated with giant Santas or Rudolphs.
Yet, wherever there are Christmas decorations, there inevitably follows an electrical bill. According to a recent report by USA Today, the average household in the US spent approximately $16.48 on electricity to illuminate holiday lights, which is almost $2 more than in 2021.
We all agree that holidays are fun and that nothing should kill the Christmas spirit. But even with the most affordable electricity company in Texas, such as Rhythm Energy, you must use your energy smartly. Otherwise, you’ll spend your money on paying enormous electrical bills for holiday lights instead of spending it on your family’s presents. Thankfully, economizing during the holiday season can be easy if you know some tips and tricks. And we are here to help you learn those.
How Much Power Do Holiday Lights Use?
There are many ways to save your energy bill during Christmas, such as LED lights or switching to Time Of Use pricing plans. Before we dive into it, we’ll focus on how much power you actually spend on your holiday decorations.
The electrical bill prices during this period are inseparable from heating costs. This is why it’s not a surprise that winter in the US is the second-highest season for electricity usage, according to the EIA (Energy Information Administration). When it comes to Texas, the average household spends $14.12 for running Christmas lights.
If you want to calculate how much you spend on your electrical bill during holidays, there’s a formula:
[wattage/1000 x time in hours] x cost per kWh in cents = cost for Christmas decoration
The price for a power bill can vary, depending on the number of days and hours you use them, as well as on the type of decoration you use. For example, if you use a standard C9 bulb with 2-inch incandescent lights, and have around 500 bulbs, your costs will be $63 in the holiday month. This is when you turn on your decoration six hours per day.
On the other side, you can spend less with the same amount of hours if you use energy-efficient LED bulbs. Believe it or not, the power bill for this kind of decoration is only $9.
How To Save Your Energy Bill
Before you go festive, let’s see how you can control your electrical usage, which will help you control your electrical bill too. There are many ways to ensure reasonable energy consumption, and yet, enjoy your holiday season the best way you can do it. Here’s something that you can do:
Consider LED Lamps
First and foremost, consider getting LED (or light emitting diode) light. They are brighter than traditional lights. If you have old Christmas decorations, now is the perfect time to upgrade to LED lights. Not only do they bring a fresh, vibrant glow to your holiday display, but they also save energy and last longer.
According to the Department of Energy (DOE), LED bulbs use at least 75% less energy. They also last up to 25 times longer than classic incandescent lights. On top of that, you can get incentives for LED lights provided by utility companies in Texas, such as Oncor and CenterPoint Energy. For example, Oncors provides LED lighting discounts depending on the lamp model you choose. It’s a part of the Retail Products Program, offering point-of-sale discounts. Similarly, CenterPoint Energy has the Advanced Lighting Program, providing you with rebates by buying any Energy Star LED lamps.
Aside from helping you save electricity in Texas, LED holiday lights are beneficial for many other reasons. They are much safer than incandescent lights, protecting you from fires. They are not made from glass, so they cannot break easily. Finally, they are a good alternative for those who support green energy because LED lamps help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Think Creative
Holiday decoration can be expensive by itself, so you should be creative. You don’t need to overload your outdoors with a bunch of shiny Santas waiving to your neighbors. Instead, choose each ornament and light bubbles smartly. To make the best of it, put your decorations in smart spots. Keep it simple—put shiny ornaments or tinsel in spots that bounce light around. This creates a sparkly effect, making it seem like there are more lights than there really are.
Set Timers for Lights
Another way to further reduce your power bill is to set timers for both home and outdoor lights. Just plug in your lights and schedule timers to turn them on after dark and off at bedtime. After all, there’s no point in making your decoration shine the whole day and night. Who’s gonna see it at 3 a.m., anyway? Instead, you will end up with a skyrocketing power bill, while you didn’t even enjoy it in full. Choose the time of the day to turn on your light when you are at home and combine it with some Rhythm’s Time of Use Plans in Texas, to save on your energy bill. Time of use rates help you reduce costs and help you incentivize energy consumption during off-peak hours, contributing to green energy.
Switch to Solar
While it might be a bit more than traditional lights, switching to solar-powered holiday lights is a bright choice. It not only reduces your environmental impact but can also lead to substantial savings on your energy bills down the road.
Choose Your Electricity Plan Wisely
If you are moving to Texas around Christmas, maybe it’s a good decision to think about subscribing to a home protection plan. Rhythm Energy offers the most affordable home protection plans in the industry. This is the perfect time to save on your energy bill during holidays, but also protect your appliance from unexpected power surges.
Save Energy on Heating
You can save on an electricity bill in Texas by using programmable thermostats. These appliances have the ability to adjust your home temperature the way you like it. During the winter and holiday season, the thermostat adjusts home heating and cooling equipment following the schedule you set up. If you go away for holidays, you can set up the thermostat to a lower temperature, and save on your energy bill.
