Cost of powering Christmas lights across UK…

The days of expensive filament fairy lights have given way to more cost-effective LED bulbs.

Findings reveal that regions like London and North Wales see the highest lighting bills, while Yorkshire enjoys the lowest. This regional cost contrast is something the team here at ATV Today Lifestyle finds eye-opening. We’ve seen it across the cities and towns, over the past decade as the big bulky festive blow mould lights surrounded by burning filament bulbs give way to the more compact LED versions. The savings from the switch have also seen Blackpool and Sunderland Illuminations see their electricity bills greatly reduced. Considering switching to LEDs at home? It could slash lighting costs by 89.13%.

New research reveals the energy costs of running Christmas lights across different regions of the UK – despite the national energy price cap. Plumbworld examined the total cost of operating a standard set of 200 incandescent lights (80 watts) and a 12W inflatable Father Christmas for 12 hours a day over 43 days.

White LED fairy lights on a silver tree

Regions with the most expensive Christmas light running costs

1. London Region: £13.49

2. North Wales and Liverpool Area: £13.42

3. Southeast England: £13.34

4. Eastern England: £13.26

5. Central Southern England: £13.06

Regions with the cheapest Christmas light running costs

1. Yorkshire Region: £12.59

2. Northeastern England: £12.62

3. East Midlands England: £12.70

4. Midlands England: £12.75

5. Southern Scotland: £12.76

An ‘LED twig tree’

This ranking highlights the diverse energy costs across the UK. However, the good news is that these expenses can be significantly reduced. By replacing the current setup with energy-efficient alternatives – specifically, 200 LED lights (6 watts) and a 4W LED garden reindeer – households can achieve a remarkable reduction in power consumption by approximately 89.13%.

A spokesperson for Plumbworld:

“Despite the national energy price cap, regional variations in the costs of running Christmas lights persist, mainly due to differing distribution charges and supplier operational costs across the UK. This highlights the importance of energy efficiency in managing household expenses. Switching to LED lights is an effective way to reduce these costs. LEDs are much more energy-efficient than traditional incandescent bulbs, potentially cutting power consumption by 89.13%. This not only lowers energy bills but also benefits the environment.

“LEDs also last longer and are more durable, leading to additional long-term savings. Given the rising energy prices, using LED lights for Christmas decorations is both an economically and environmentally sound decision for UK households.”