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Light Up the Holidays with Free LED Light Bulbs from Starkville Utilities

Customers who use SmartHub can qualify for this special holiday offer

‘Tis the season for giving—and saving—with Starkville Utilities’ energy-efficient light bulb giveaway. In addition to making the holidays merry and bright, LED bulbs can help customers save money on lighting bills.

Customers who already use SmartHub and those who enroll in December will receive a free pack of energy-efficient LED bulbs from Starkville Utilities. LED bulbs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs.

“Switching to LED lights is an easy way to lower energy bills, and customers can find even more ways to save by using our SmartHub online portal,” said Edward Kemp, general manager. “Helping customers get the most out of their service is an important part of our mission, and we’re happy to walk customers through the SmartHub enrollment process.”

To claim their free light bulbs, customers should come to the Starkville Utilities lobby from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. A customer service representative will confirm that they’re enrolled in SmartHub and ensure their contact information is updated before presenting their free light bulbs.

SmartHub is Starkville Utilities’ online portal that enables customers to easily manage their energy usage and keep their accounts in good standing. Here are additional benefits:

• Access useful features: SmartHub allows customers to pay bills, set up their accounts for budget billing, enroll in autopay, or sign up for paperless billing.
• Usage comparisons: Ever wonder how your usage this month compares to the same month last year? This tool can give you a quick graphic comparing usage as well as weather conditions.
• Usage alerts: Want to know when your daily utility usage exceeds the typical amount, or if there are signs you may have a water leak? With usage alerts, you can set up a usage threshold and be notified if your usage is higher than that amount.
• Download data: SmartHub allows you to download your utility usage data to store or perform more advanced analysis.
• Control communications: You decide how you prefer to be communicated with (text, email, phone or all three), what you’d like to be notified about (bill available, bill overdue, etc.) and how often you’d like to be contacted.

By tying SmartHub enrollment to energy-efficient light bulbs, Starkville Utilties is providing more ways for customers to manage their utility budgets. A certified LED lightbulb can save about $55 in electricity costs over its lifetime, and using LED light strings can reduce holiday decorating expenses.

LED lights also are less likely to overheat. Many LED string lights allow 15 to 50 strands to be safely connected. If using incandescent lights, most manufacturers recommend connecting no more than three to five strands end-to-end. Connecting more can overheat wires and increase the risk of fire.

Be sure to check out Warm In/Winter Out tips from Starkville Utilities for more DIY advice on lowering utility costs during cold weather.

Starkville Utilities is a municipally owned and operated electric and water utility, serving more than 14,000 residences, businesses and industries in Starkville as well as the state’s largest institution of higher learning, Mississippi State University.