Does the B in BC, stand for Bah Humbug to Outdoor Decoration Displays?

From tangled heaps of Christmas light can come impressive 
Holiday presentations across Prince Rupert and BC

When it comes to decorating out homes for festive occasions,  BC Hydro is noting that British Columbians may be on Santa's Naughty list, with Halloween seemingly outpacing the Christmas period when it comes to home based displays.

The news comes from a BC Hydro which commissioned Majiid Khoury for the survey who contacted 800 British Columbians from November 22-27.

From the results of that sample, it was found that half of British Columbians decorated their home for Halloween this year, and of those 13 per cent considered their outdoor décor to be a 'mega display,' of ten or more strings of lights, and at least one plug-in inflatable decoration. 

In comparison, while just over half of British Columbians are also planning to decorate for the winter holidays, ten per cent are planning a mega display for the exterior of their home.

"Elaborate holiday displays account for about three per cent of the provincial electricity load during the winter holiday season, and Halloween displays are starting to keep pace with what was once unique to the December to January period. While winter holiday season decorating is still more popular, those who go all out with mega displays are favouring Halloween for the first time ever."  -- Susie Rieder, BC Hydro spokesperson. 

The BC Hydro information piece, also provides for some notes on outdoor lighting and what British Columbians are using for their displays. 

And not surprisingly, for those British Columbians who do take to the outdoor decorating, the competitive streak is strong province wide.

There is also an element of 'keeping up with the Joneses' when it comes to holiday displays that could add to costs. 

For example, almost 30 per cent said they are more likely to put up an elaborate holiday lighting display if their neighbours do so, and seven per cent said they overtly or covertly compete with their neighbours over who has the best exterior lighting display. 

Interestingly, 46 percent concede their neighbour has the best lighting display in the neighbourhood, with just 11 per cent self-proclaiming their display to be the best.

The Full Report can be reviewed here.

BC Hydro is in its own Festive mood at the moment offering up a Holiday contest for British Columbias to take part in, that through their Holiday Countdown.

As for the Lighting up of the province's communities, a reminder of the Prince Rupert Special Events Society's Holiday Light Up The Town Project, which is taking registration until this Sunday, December 10th for those who have decorated their homes or businesses.

Whether yours is a subtle display of Christmas cheer or you have gone the Full Grizwald with your home or business display they want o hear from you.

Find out more on that Holiday program from the Special Events Social Media stream, which will be posting videos of the submitted entries following the December 10 deadline..

More notes from BC Hydro can be explored here.

For other items of interest from BC Hydro see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.