Halloween is giving Christmas a run for its money as increasingly elaborate displays transform homes across B.C.

A new BC Hydro survey finds four in 10 households that decorate for both holidays saying they now decorate just as much or more for Halloween than Christmas.

And Halloween’s rise has been hard to miss. More than 80% say Halloween decorations have become more elaborate and widespread over the past decade, while nearly two-thirds say Halloween has become one of the biggest decorating holidays of the year.

The trend is showing up on front lawns and homes across the province, with decorations stretching well beyond traditional jack-o’-lanterns. More than 20% use inflatables and 16% use animated or moving decorations.

From glowing pumpkins to giant inflatables and moving monsters to light displays, Halloween decorations have become more elaborate bringing bigger electricity demands. For example, a fog machine can draw between 400 and 1,200 watts while heating, while some larger animated decorations can draw between 30 and 200 watts while operating. The longer these decorations run, the more electricity they can consume.

British Columbians are also getting a head start on the spooky season, with more than one-quarter (27%) turning on their electric decorations at least 15 days before Halloween. More than one-third (37%) leave their displays running for four to six hours on a typical evening. Some people are taking steps to manage energy use, nearly half (44%), are using a timer or smart plug to control usage while their decorations are on.

“Halloween decorating has gone from a few pumpkins on the porch to some seriously impressive displays, and for many British Columbians it’s starting to rival Christmas,” said Mora Scott, spokesperson for BC Hydro. “As decorations get bigger and the season gets longer, BC Hydro is offering some simple tips to keep the costs down.”

BC Hydro recommends thinking about these energy-saving tips when decorating: 

• Download the new BC Hydro app so you can easily track your energy usage and find opportunities to save.
• Choose LED lighting and save about $40 over the holiday season. LED holiday lights also last 10 times longer than incandescent lights and come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colours.
• Using timers or smart plugs to help reduce electricity costs by only having lights and inflatables on when needed.

Join BC Hydro’s Team Power Smart for free to help make managing and reducing electricity easier. BC Hydro has tripled its Team Power Smart Reduction Challenge reward from $50 to $150 for income-qualified households.

Customers who sign up for the challenge from Oct. 15 to Jan. 15, 2027, will be eligible for the reward if they reduce their usage by 10% over the course of a year.

BC Hydro photo

Article Share