Essential Energy urges safety with Christmas lights

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Essential Energy Urges Safety With Christmas Lights

Essential Energy urges safety with Christmas lights this holiday season, reminding customers across their network to put safety first before decorating homes with festive displays.

The electricity distributor has provided customers with practical electrical safety tips designed to protect households throughout the festive period.

Why Essential Energy Is Urging Caution This Season

"Christmas is a very busy time of year for everyone, and Essential Energy wants to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep our communities and our people safe," Chief People Officer, Amalie Smith said.

"We know most of you will already have your lights up, so it's really thinking about when you are taking them down."

Checking Your Equipment Before Use

Before plugging in any festive equipment, homeowners should inspect old Christmas lights for any sign of damage or tear. Faulty equipment poses a genuine risk, so checking cords, plugs and bulbs carefully matters just as much as the display itself.

Always read manufacturer's instructions before installing new equipment, particularly extra-low-voltage lights, solar powered lights, LED strings or any other electrical wires connected to your tree or home exterior.

• Turn off Christmas lights before leaving home or going to bed — never leave your Christmas tree lights overnight unattended
• Have a licensed electrician check equipment that shows wear or exposed electrical wires
• Wear appropriate footwear when handling outdoor equipment near damp ground
• Check your safety switch at the meter box works correctly before the festive rush begins

Qualified Electricians Are Essential

Essential Energy strongly urges homeowners to ensure all electrical work throughout their home gets carried out by qualified electricians. Attempting repairs on faulty equipment without proper training increases risk unnecessarily.

Households sharing similar concerns may find guidance in how Ergon Energy reminds customers to prioritise electrical safety when installing Christmas lights, offering another useful perspective on seasonal equipment checks.

Broader Commitment to Community Safety

This seasonal reminder builds on Essential Energy's ongoing safety initiatives, including recent recognition of Essential Energy's 2023 Electricity Safety Week competition winners and their continued focus, as outlined when Essential Energy emphasises the importance of renewable energy during Electricity Safety Week.

Businesses managing equipment compliance year-round may benefit from structured resources such as an Electrical Safety Checklist or established Workplace Safety Rules to keep equipment inspections consistent beyond the holidays.

Organisations seeking broader oversight tools might also explore dedicated Safety Software solutions supporting equipment tracking and hazard reporting across sites.

Further Information

Further information is available here, where teams can access additional support on electricity-related safety questions ahead of the festive break.

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