Salt River Project has some advice for celebrating the holiday season safely when it comes to lights.

The Tempe-based utility suggests:

• Use LED holiday lights, which are energy efficient and cool to the touch.  
• Use a timer to turn off holiday lights during daylight hours and other specified times and make sure they are off before leaving home or going to bed. 
• Use only lights that have been tested for safety. The lights should have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) label. 
• Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, loose connections or frayed or bare wires. Discard all damaged cords.  
• Don’t overload outlets or extension cords. 
• Plug all outdoor holiday lights and electrical decorations into outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters to reduce the likelihood of electric shock.  
• Uncoil extension cords completely before using and be sure to place them away from heat sources and bulbs. Make sure extension cords are used appropriately as marked – either for indoor or outdoor use.  
• Keep extension cords out of water, away from metal objects and tucked away or taped down to eliminate tripping hazards. 
• Use caution when decorating near power lines. Always stay at least 10 feet away.