Decorate safely for the holidays

When you pull out those holiday lights, be sure to inspect them carefully. They may have worn during their year in storage. Replace any string lights that have broken cords. Beware of frayed wires and loose bulb connections. Unsafe electrical conditions can cause tree fires.

Also, don’t link more than three light strands together, and be sure not to overload electrical outlets.

When decorating outdoors, be sure to look up and spot potential hazards such as power lines. Never throw a string of lights or other decorations into trees near power lines. Keep ladders, equipment and yourself at least 10 feet from power lines.

Worried about the impact those holiday lights will have on your We Energies bill? Use energy-saving LED lights. Also, set your lights on a timer so you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn them off at night.