We all love the colour and spectacle of Christmas lights, so it’s important that we connect our festive fun in an electricity-safe way.

As we get closer to the big day, Essential Energy has a Christmas wish for everyone to stay safe during the festive season.

With the safety of our communities and our people being Essential Energy’s number one priority, here are a few handy tips for power safety in the home.

• Inspect old Christmas lights and electrical wires for any sign of damage or wear and tear before installing.
• Check that all globes are properly fitted and don’t use light sets with missing globes, to prevent other conductive items being placed inside the socket.
• Read the light manufacturers’ safety and installation instructions and follow these carefully.
• Only purchase lights that meet Australian safety standards.
• Position your Christmas lights away from flammable materials such as curtains and sofas.
• If not LED, do not place lights close to tinsel and flammable decorations as the heat from lights could start a fire if they are left on for a long time.
• When decorating the outside of your house choose lights and light fittings designed for external use.
• Turn off your Christmas tree lights overnight and avoid piggybacking plugs.
• Never attach outdoor Christmas lights or electrical leads to power poles or streetlights. Not only is it dangerous, it’s illegal.
• Look up and live. With your outside lights, make sure you are clear of the service main where the electricity connects to your house and avoid installing lights or other decorations near overhead powerlines.

Essential Energy encourages customers to have a safety switch within their meter box and ensure that any electrical work needed around the home is undertaken by a licensed electrician.

If you do feel a shock or tingle when touching a tap, showerhead or any appliance in your home, call Essential Energy straight away on 132080 and stay clear of those appliances until it is safe.

If a severe electrical shock has occurred, stay clear of the shock site. If the shock was from an appliance ensure the electricity has been switched off at the power point, otherwise stay clear of the area and call 000.

If a minor electrical shock has occurred, you should still seek medical attention. Complications can arise after it has happened, even several hours later, and we can never be sure of the impacts of the electric shock on an individual.

Essential Energy has crews on call over the Christmas period, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

For more information, visit the Essential Energy website – Christmas Lights Safety and Shocks and Tingles.