United Illuminating Offers Holiday Safety Tips

When you’re making a holiday gift list and checking it twice, remember that the best present is a safe and efficient home where family members feel the warm glow of the season without worry.

In order to provide some holiday help, the UIL Holdings Corporation (NYSE: UIL) presents a holiday safety and efficiency gift guide for everyone in the family.

For adults:

LED lights for the tree and house: Decorative LED light strings such as Christmas tree lights use 90 percent less electricity than incandescent lights. Decking the halls with LEDs is also safer: LEDs are much cooler than incandescent lights, reducing the risk of combustion or burnt fingers. LEDs are made with epoxy lenses, not glass, and are much more resistant to breakage. Up to 25 strings of LEDs can be connected end-to-end without overloading a wall socket. LEDs are also more durable: The same LED string could still be in use 40 holiday seasons from now. 




Safety tips:

Please remember to inspect all electrical decorations before use for any frayed or bare wires, damaged sockets or loose connections. When using a ladder to install outdoor lights, make sure you know where overhead power lines are located and use a fiberglass ladder. Don’t overload wall outlets and make sure extension cords are in good working order. Unplug electric decorations before you go to bed. Make sure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are working correctly.

Switch to environmentally friendly natural gas heat: Heating with natural gas is affordable and reliable. You can learn more from your UIL gas utility: The Southern Connecticut Gas Company: Call 1-855-926-4427 or visit soconngas.com, Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation: Call 1-855-926-4427 or visit cngcorp.com, Berkshire Gas Company: Call 1-800-297-7144 or visit berkshiregas.com.

For the kids:

Battery-powered candles: Open-flame candles start 45 percent of home decoration fires and Christmas, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Day are the top three days of the year for candle fires, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Tamper resistant receptacles: TRRs replace standard wall outlets and may appear identical on the outside, but they are designed with internal spring-loaded receptacle cover plates that close off the receptacle openings or slots. When equal pressure is simultaneously applied to both sides, the receptacle cover plates open, allowing a standard plug to make contact with the receptacle contact points. Without this simultaneous pressure, the cover plates remain closed, preventing children from inserting household items. Hire a licensed electrician to install TRRs.

For relatives and friends:

A home energy audit: Connecticut utility customers can take advantage of the Home Energy Solutions program, paid for by rate-payers through the Energy Efficiency Fund. For a $99 co-payment (waived for income-eligible customers) an auditor will provide a full energy inspection and make on-the-spot improvements such as caulking, sealing and efficient light bulbs. You’ll also learn about energy-saving upgrades, rebates and offers. Visit www.energizect.com or call 877-947-3873 (877-WISE-USE).

Customers of Berkshire Gas in Massachusetts can schedule free energy assessments, with significant discounts on energy-saving improvements such as insulation and sealing. Customers who meet income qualifications may be eligible for free energy-saving improvements. Call 800-944-3212 or visit berkshiregas.com for information.

A new thermostat: Replacing an older thermostat with a digital, programmable model can help you keep warm while you’re at home, but save you money when you’re away or asleep.

Savings: If you know a customer of The United Illuminating Company, SCG or CNG who would like some help with the bill, call UI at 800-722-5584 (800-7-CALL-UI), SCG at 800-659-8299 or CNG at 860-524-8361 and request a Gift of Energy certificate in their name. The gift certificate will be applied to the customer’s account once payment is confirmed.

“We hope these gift ideas help bring a joyous and safe holiday season to all UIL customers. Conserving energy, lowering our bills and putting safety first are things that make us all merry,” said UIL President and CEO James P. Torgerson.