How Much Would The Griswolds' "Fun Old-Fashioned Family Christmas" Cost in 2022?

December 19, 2022

And would Clark's Christmas bonus cover it?


Upon its release in 1989, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation became an instant classic. One of the most iconic images from the movie is the family home lit up with 25,000 lights. Clark Griswold’s over-the-top light display infuriates the neighbors and briefly blacks out the entirety of Chicago, but what impact does it have on the Griswold’s finances?


Clark boasts that he’s got 250 strands of lights with 100 bulbs each, totaling 25,000 lights. The average price of electricity in the United States today is $0.1632 per kilowatt hour. Some quick research tells us that a 100-bulb strand of C9 lights (the type used in the movie) uses 700 Watts of electricity to operate. If the Griswolds were to run their light display 10 hours a day for 30 days, it would add a whopping $8,570 to their electric bill!  


Unfortunately for Clark, LED Christmas lights didn’t come on to the market until 1998. Using only 4.8 Watts per strand, as opposed to the 700 Watts an incandescent strand uses, they are a far more economical choice for holiday décor. If Clark had been able to use LED’s, the same light display would only cost the family a mere $58.75.


The moral of the story is this- replacing your old incandescent lights with LEDs is worth it. Make your celebration memorable, not your electricity bill.


If you’re interested in finding out how much your own light display will cost, you can use this handy calculator to estimate it.

5 Tips For Businesses To Save On Their Energy Bill

By Andrew Sandglass • March 27, 2025
Let us help your business save!

A Message From Our President

March 10, 2025
As businesses continue their budgeting process throughout 2025, electricity supply costs across the PJM Interconnection region are rising, driven largely by an increase in capacity charges. Capacity charges, which ensure enough power is available during peak demand, have seen a sharp uptick, leading to higher rates, especially in the DC and Maryland energy markets. Both residential and commercial customers are facing these increases, with supply prices potentially rising by as much as 20%, significantly impacting operational costs across Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Baltimore County, Ann Arundel County and towns all across the east coast. However, there is still time to mitigate the coming increase in supply rates. From simple energy efficiency upgrades, such as LED lighting or smart thermostats, to longer-term projects like solar panel installations and power walls, businesses have a range of commercial energy solutions to reduce consumption and control costs. These procurement strategies can offer significant business energy savings over time and position companies for more sustainable energy use. We encourage you to talk with business owners and decision-makers in your network about these rising costs. This is a great time to introduce them to Electric Advisors , where we can help them navigate these changes and find ways to reduce their energy expenses. Your referrals can play a crucial role in helping those in your network become more competitive and we've made a profound impact on local businesses up and down the east coast and beyond. See below for an example of where our clients are being serviced.  Best,

Electric Advisors Earns Montgomery County Green Business Certification

March 6, 2025
Electric Advisors, Inc. is proud to announce that we are now a Montgomery County Certified Green Business! We are also proud to share that we have recently received silver level recognition, after reaching bronze just a short number of months ago. This achievement reflects our commitment to reducing our impact on the environment and actively integrating sustainable practices into our daily operations. The program, operated in partnership with Bethesda Green and the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, encourages businesses to be leaders in environmental stewardship while working towards a more sustainable future. By participating in this certification program, we join a growing community of forward-thinking businesses dedicated to creating a greener economy. The certification is structured around continuous improvement, offering businesses the opportunity to progress through Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels as they enhance their sustainability practices. To learn more about the Montgomery County Green Business Certification Program and how your business can get involved, click here . Electric Advisors is proud to be part of this initiative, and we encourage other local businesses to explore the program and join us on the path to a greener future. Help us embrace sustainable practices and work towards a greener future for our community!