Do Christmas Lights Really Jolt Your Bill In Michigan?

The holiday season is about to be in full swing and lights will soon be glowing. It's the time of year when many of us channel our inner Clark Griswold and illuminate our homes. With an entire month or more of keeping the lights shining, you may get concerned about the hit to your electric bill, but exactly how much does it cost to keep your house festive?

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Today's Homeowner decided to break it down for consumers and find out what the real cost was to indulge in that yuletide spirit, and depending on where you live, it may not be as pricey as you thought. Of course, it will add a bit to your utility bill, but Michigan finds itself hovering right around the middle when it comes to the overall cost.

"With inflation rates hitting record highs and utility costs soaring right along with them, we wanted to see how much more people have to pay to run Christmas lights this year. To find this out, we analyzed each state’s estimated cost of powering Christmas lights in 2021 and 2022. We first took each state’s average house footage and electricity rate, and then researched the most common decorations used by American households, based on some of the most popularly bought items from The Home Depot", they said.

This study looked at the following:

• Three to five sets of hanging icicle lights that are 13.25 feet each.
• Two sets of string lights that are 28.8 feet each for columns and entryways.
• Two 6-foot inflatable yard decorations.

The data then gave the total cost to power lights from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

What's the  Cost of Running Christmas Lights in Michigan?

If you plan on decking the halls in a big way with lights, the pinch to your electricity bill will depend on the type of lights you use. According to Today's Homeowner, Michigan residents will average $15.02. Keep in mind, that those averages are based on the lights running 8 hours a day for 36 days.

To keep it in perspective, Hawaii is the most costly state for holiday cheer with iridescent lights averaging $27.87 for LED. The most affordable states for running Christmas lights were Washington, Idaho, and Oregon all averaging well under $12 for the season.

If you haven't switched yet to LED, now is the time. Switching to LED lighting helps no matter the size of your household, reduces energy usage, and saves money. So deck those halls, and light those lights, because the little extra splurge is worth it.

You can view the entire breakdown by state by clicking here.