La Plata Electric Association holding holiday lighting challenge

Cooperative to offer prizes for creative lighting displays

DURANGO, Colo. – While La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) isn’t encouraging members to channel Clark Griswold from the Chevy Chase movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (and trigger an outage in your neighborhood), the cooperative looks forward to celebrating exterior holiday lighting efforts across its service territory this season.

LPEA will once again host its exterior holiday lighting competition, rewarding members with the best lighting displays in La Plata and Archuleta counties with a variety of prizes.

To be entered in the contest, registration is required by Dec. 3, via email: 2018lightcontest@lpea.coop, or call 970.247.5786. Consumer-members are requested to give their permission for LPEA to use names and images for promotional purposes. Lighting displays will be judged the week of Dec. 17.

“Holiday lights, especially when we have a winter wonderland of snow, add a special glow to our communities around the holidays,” said LPEA CEO Mike Dreyspring. “With the great, new decorative lighting available, we’re excited to encourage our members’ creativity.”

Creativity is important, but a requirement for eligibility is use of LED lights, according to LPEA Energy Management Advisor Nancy Andrews.

“LED holiday lights are energy efficient and cost effective on all fronts – from initial purchase to the amount of electricity they draw,” said Andrews. “Plus, the jewel tones are beautiful. For safety, be sure to install those lights specified for exterior use, and never puncture the cords when hanging.”

LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative established in 1939, provides to its more than 30,000 members, with in excess of 42,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible. Additional information is available at www.lpea.coop.