Allegheny Power Provides Helpful Safety Tips for Holiday Lighting

      

Holiday lights should be inspected annually. Assuming that lights are in good working condition because they worked last year can be a big mistake. Look for frayed wires, damaged sockets or missing insulation. If any of these conditions exist, the lights should be thrown away.

Always use lighting according to the manufacturer's specifications - indoor lights for indoor use only and outdoor lights for outdoor use. To reduce the possibility of electrical shock or fires, always check for the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) Mark when purchasing new lights or decorations.

In addition to visually inspecting holiday lighting and decorations, Allegheny Power offers the following safety tips:

• Always unplug lights or decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses.
• Keep all outdoor extension cords and light strings clear of snow and standing water and well protected from weather.
• Do not allow children or pets to play with light strings or other electrical decorations. Even small light decorations can produce a serious electric shock if they are misused.
• When hanging lights outside, be sure to survey the area for overhead power lines and maintain at least a 10-foot distance. Contrary to popular belief, wooden ladders also conduct electricity and no ladder should ever touch a power line.
• Securely fasten outdoor lights to trees, walls or other firm supports to protect them from wind damage and use insulated staples or hooks. Avoid hanging lights with nails or tacks.
• Plug outdoor lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters. Circuit interrupters can be purchased wherever electrical supplies are sold.
• Do not overload extension cords - it can cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
• Turn off all electrical light strings and decorations before leaving your house or going to bed.

Checking electric lights and decorations before installation can help ensure a happy and safe holiday season for you and your family. And remember, if your lights do need replaced, consider LED lighting. LEDs can use up to 98% less energy than incandescent bulbs and can last up to 50,000 hours. For more information on electrical safety, call our Customer Service Center at 1-800-Allegheny (1-800-255-3443), or visit our Web site at www.alleghenypower.com.

Allegheny Energy

Headquartered in Greensburg, Pa., Allegheny Energy, Inc. (NYSE: AYE) is an investor-owned electric utility with total annual revenues of over $3 billion and more than 4,000 employees. The company owns and operates generating facilities and delivers low-cost, reliable electric service to 1.6 million customers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. For more information, visit our Web site at www.alleghenyenergy.com.

Allegheny Energy, Inc.
Jeffrey Straight, 724-838-6463
Corporate Communications
Media Hotline: 1-888-233-3583
E-mail: jstrai4@alleghenyenergy.com