Last year Craig Patterson decorated his North Roanoke County home with 17,000 lights.

His roof, laden to capacity with electrical strands, resembled a video monitor as pixel-like bulbs formed images that danced to recorded carols.

His display drew spectators who slowed to a crawl or stopped altogether.

His electric bill shot up like a geyser — $125 more than the previous month.

But Patterson, 36, a low-voltage technician for Newcomb Electric, looked upon the sparkling yuletide fantasia he’d created and decided ... it just wasn’t enough.

“I wanted to add more,” he said.

“This year, I’m pushing 31,000 lights.”

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