Delhi Township reports savings for residents from switch to LED streetlights

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Miranda Dunlap

The Delhi Township board of trustees Oct. 19 approved passing savings from LED streetlights along to property owners that pay to install and operate them. Consumers Energy recently upgraded 300 streetlights to LED.

Delhi Township plans to return savings from more energy-efficient streetlights to property owners.

The township board voted Oct. 19 to adjust streetlight bills charged to property owners to account for savings from upgrades to LED lights, which are less costly to operate. 

Consumers Energy operates many streetlights in Delhi Township. The company recently switched more than 300 lights to LED. Each upgraded streetlight saves between $84 and $179 annually, according to a memorandum from Township Manager Tracy Miller.

“When you see streetlights in Delhi Township, there are two types,” Miller said. “There are those that are ‘at-large’ lights, and those are typically the ones that are located at major intersections or areas where the overall public benefits from the presence of those streetlights. And then there are the kind that are in your neighborhoods or your subdivisions, and that are really for the benefits of the residents of those neighborhoods and subdivisions.”

Miller said that when neighborhoods are developed, the township establishes special assessment districts that tax property owners to pay for the streetlights in each neighborhood. The districts ensure property owners that benefit from them pay the cost for streetlights. 

“Each year we have to look at what we’re actually being charged by Consumers Energy or (the Lansing) Board of Water and Light and make sure that what we’re charging the streetlight districts is actually covering the costs,” Miller said. 

Miller said Consumers Energy has been replacing streetlights with LEDs when they become obsolete. 

“I imagine that those conversions will continue until they’re essentially all replaced with LED lights,” Miller said. 

The township board unanimously voted to make sure the fees property owners are charged are examined and adjusted annually to reflect energy efficiency savings. 

“I support Consumers Energy’s efforts to replace lights with LED lights, reducing energy consumption and saving the public money,” Trustee Matt Lincoln said. 

Treasurer Tom Lenard said his neighborhood has seen the benefits of these streetlight districts. He said his homeowners association voted to request the installation of two streetlights at a bus stop to provide safe lighting for children, and the streetlight district made it easy for them to split the cost of this investment. 

“Supporting energy-efficiency efforts, like what happens with upgraded streetlights, leads to direct savings for many taxpayers,” he said. “We’ll continue to look for ways to do even more in the future.”

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