SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – As people decorate homes and trees this holiday season, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) encourages customers to keep safety and energy efficiency in mind.

Holiday lights bring joy to the season, but they can also bring hazards and added costs to your energy bill.

PG&E offers the following holiday lighting tips for customers.

Holiday lighting energy efficiency tips

– Purchase energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights. LED lights can reduce energy consumption by as much as 90 percent when compared to traditional holiday lights and can shine brightly for up to 20 holiday seasons.

– A string of 300 LED holiday lights can cost less than $0.50 to operate during the holiday season, compared to nearly $70 for a string of 300 large incandescent holiday lights.

– LED holiday light strings are available at many retailers in northern and central California. For more savings, look for the blue and gold PG&E rebate sticker. The rebate amount is included in the price, so you receive instant savings at the time of purchase. For more information on participating stores, visit http://www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/savingstips/seasonaltips/winter/led/index.shtml.

Holiday lighting safety tips

– In addition to being shatterproof and shock resistant, LED lights produce almost no heat, making them safe to touch and greatly reducing the risk of fire.

– Look up and live! Before stringing outdoor lights, check for overhead power lines. Never place yourself or any object in a position where you or it may come in contact with a power line – the result can be fatal. Look up before raising ladders or other objects. Keep at least 10 feet away from overhead lines.

– Before stringing lights on outdoor trees, make sure tree limbs haven't grown into or near power lines. Branches, entire trees and even the ground adjacent to a tree can become energized when trees contact power lines.

– Make sure lights used to decorate the outside of the house are approved for outdoor use. Never use indoor lights outdoors.

– Follow the manufacturer's limits for the number of light strings that can be connected together safely.

– Check all light strands for cracked or broken plugs, frayed insulation or bare wires. Worn cords can cause fires, so discard damaged sets of lights.

– Route cords inside your home so they won't trip anyone. Don't place them under rugs, furniture or other appliances. If covered, cords can overheat or become frayed, increasing the risk of fire.

– Always turn off decorative lights – indoors and outdoors – when leaving the house and before going to bed.

– Do not place your tree near a heat source such as a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, making it more susceptible to fires caused by heat, flame or sparks.