This Thanksgiving, Pacific Gas and Electric is sharing ways to gobble up energy savings to help reduce higher holiday energy bills.

“We feel fortunate to be able to serve the same communities where we live and raise our families. With this in mind, we encourage customers to put safety first at holiday gatherings and look for ways to reduce energy use this season,” said Aaron August, PG&E’s Vice President of Business Development & Customer Engagement.

Here are some simple tips for customers enjoying the holidays:

• Start with a clean oven and stovetop to reduce the risk of a grease fire.

• Keep the oven door closed when in use. Cut down your oven's energy consumption by using the oven light to check on food instead of opening the door. It will help maintain the correct temperature and minimize the oven having to reheat itself.

• Use the stove instead of the oven as range-top cooking uses less energy. Also plan side dishes that can cook simultaneously in the oven to reduce the amount of time it is running. Use the microwave to reheat or cook small portions.

• Install a dimmer light switch for dining room light fixtures. Dimming a bulb’s brightness by 10% can double the bulb’s lifespan. Keep the lights off when not in use.

• Use a dishwasher and scrape plates instead of rinsing with hot water to save energy and money. Wait until there is a full load before starting the dishwasher. And be sure to stop the appliance before the heated dry cycle; open the door and let your dishes air-dry.

• Fire safety is critical on Thanksgiving as it is the peak day for home cooking fires especially when frying foods. Turkey fryers can easily tip over spilling hot oil across a large area. Customers should only use turkey fryers outdoors on a sturdy, level surface away from things that can burn.

For more ways to stay safe this holiday season, visit www.pge.com/safety. For customers shopping for energy-saving appliances and electronics, visit PG&E’s Marketplace.