Keep the holidays safe and bright with these safety tips

(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) - The holiday season is once again upon us, and for many that means it's time to deck the halls inside and out. With the rush to get into the spirit, safety can sometimes be overlooked. LG&E and KU are offering these simple tips to make sure your holidays are safe and bright.

Decorating indoors:

• Inspect your lights and throw out any that are frayed or damaged.
• Don't overload electrical outlets.
• Use smart plugs and set timers to make sure you don't leave your lights on longer than you should.
• Place holiday trees and decorations at least three feet from fireplaces, portable heaters, radiators, heat vents and candles.
• Minimize open flames by using battery-operated candles.
• Ensure all cords are in good shape. Never run them under rugs or near heat sources and avoid tucking them into too-tight spaces.

Decorating outdoors:

• Hang decorations and holiday lights outside during daylight hours.
• Always carry ladders parallel to the ground and look up for power lines before positioning your ladder.
• Make sure ONLY to use weatherproof extension cords and power strips.
• Make sure trees have not grown too close to a power line before stringing lights.
• Make sure your lights are fastened securely enough to withstand strong winds.

When it's time to retire some of those old strands of lights, consider replacing them with LED light strands which are safe to the touch and shatterproof. They also use less energy.

Visit lge-ku.com/safety for more important electric and natural gas safety tips and information.

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Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company, part of the PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL) family of companies, are regulated utilities that serve more than 1.3 million customers and have consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. LG&E serves 335,000 natural gas and 436,000 electric customers in Louisville and 16 surrounding counties. KU serves 545,000 customers in 77 Kentucky counties and 28,000 in five counties in Virginia. More information is available at www.lge-ku.com and www.pplweb.com.