City council, at its Monday meeting, will discuss whether to give the PUC the go-ahead to begin replacing the city's 9,000 streetlights. With energy costs expected to rise, it is estimated new, energy efficient LED streetlights for Sault Ste.

City council, at its Monday meeting, will discuss whether to give the PUC the go-ahead to begin replacing the city's 9,000 streetlights.

With energy costs expected to rise, it is estimated new, energy efficient LED streetlights for Sault Ste. Marie would reduce overall local costs for energy and maintenance by approximately 40 percent annually.

Streetlighting in Sault Ste. Marie is paid for by the City of Sault Ste. Marie through municipal taxes, as the city is the PUC's sole shareholder.

The PUC is asking council, on behalf of the city of Sault Ste. Marie, to approve funding of the conversion to LED lighting through a 10-year loan to the PUC, most likely from Infrastructure Ontario.

95 Ontario cities have decided to switch to LED streetlighting, with another 30 to 40 communities in various stages of making the conversion.

The city’s cost of energy and maintenance has risen by $700,000 over the past year.

The conversion proposed by the Sault PUC, from existing high pressure sodium (HPS) lighting to modern LED lighting, would take two years (2015 and 2016) and cost up to $10 million (depending on contractor and vendor prices).

Energy cost savings for 2015 through conversion to LED streetlights are estimated to be from $608,000 to $858,000.

Those savings are expected to go up as energy costs go up.

In 2014, the PUC was approved for funding to convert to LED lighting under an incentive program offered by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

The incentive is a fixed amount of money per light, amounting to approximately $1,080,000 (10 percent to 13 percent of the estimated $10 million conversion cost).

The PUC started looking into the possibility of conversion to LED lighting in 2009.

At that time, LED lighting was new and expensive technology but now, a report to council from Sault PUC President and CEO Dominic Parrella states, the cost has come down "significantly."

A pilot study performed by the PUC showed the overall energy savings were 32 percent, much lower than the 50 to 60 percent given by LED lighting suppliers, but still significant.

The PUC report states LED lighting gives off white light in contrast to current HPS lighting's yellow light.

An important benefit of LED lighting, the PUC report states, is that it cuts down on "light pollution" and shines downward onto roadways, not spreading over onto the windows of nearby homes (though, it is noted, some homeowners may see that as a loss of security at night).