When you’re the former Guinness Book of World Records title holder for the most Christmas lights strung on a home, there is no way you can slack off when it comes time to reclaim your title. That being said, we’re pretty interested in taking a peek at the electric bill for an Australian family that’s made a comeback from last year’s defeat with more than half a million Christmas lights on display for 2013.

An official from Guinness World Records confirmed today that the Canberra family once again snagged the record for Christmas lights on a residential property with 502,165 blinking, twinkling and otherwise sparkling lights, reports the Associated Press.

The family is coming off a jolly defeat last year when a family in New York lit up the night with 346,283 lights on their home. The contenders from Down Under first snagged the title in 2001 with 331,038 lights, but now you’ve got to go even bigger to win.

For those who love ogling the sight of so many lights, the home will be open to the public on weekend to raise money for charity.

David Richards — husband of Janean and father of Aidan, 13, Caitlin, 10, and Madelyn, 6 — said most of his neighbors supported the display. But some hadn’t spoken to him since the last record was set.

“I have always loved Christmas. Having the Christmas lights with the community coming in and sharing it is a time when you get to know people you probably should know better, I guess,” said the father, adding that his neighbors support the family but some of them hadn’t spoken to him since the last record was set.

And as for that electric bill, well, it won’t steal the Christmas meal from the family’s mouths: A local power company is actually going to donate around 2,500 Australian dollars to cover the cost for a month.

Aussie house sets record with 500,000 Christmas lights [Associated Press]

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