Electricity Costs Of Christmas Lights In Illinois

ACROSS ILLINOIS — Holiday gifts aren't the only thing you're spending money on this season. According to a report by Simple. Thrifty. Living, Illinois residents and festive folks across the country might consider the cost of running Christmas or holiday lights an expense to consider. To help, Simple. Thrifty. Living found out how much these twinkly festive lights add to electricity bills in every U.S. state, and determined the cost of running Christmas lights and the cost of running LED lights in Illinois both fall below the national average cost.

To do this, Simple. Thrifty. Living estimated the number of light strands (both LED lights and incandescent lights) needed to cover the average 2,700 square foot home, in addition to the length of time the lights would run (seven hours a day, 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., for 34 days). To complete the calculations, Simply. Thrifty. Living said they used the government’s average for residential electricity rates in each state and multiplied the kWh hours by those rates.

The cost of running lights is above $20 in 14 states, with the national average for running an incandescent light display is $19.81, and $16.98 in Illinois, the report said.

Running an LED light display will add even less to your holiday electric bill, as the national average for running an LED light display is $7.16. According to the report, this will set you back $6.14 in Illinois.

If you love the festive lights of the season, don't fret, as there are many ways you can prepare for the holiday spending spree so you don’t have to sacrifice your light display.

>>More details and rates of other states