Street Lighting

On January 8, 2018, Chelan County PUD Commissioners approved a rate for municipal LED streetlights that will lower power costs for cities in Chelan County that install the energy-saving lamps. The new rate reflects the energy savings of LED lamps. Andrew Grassell, Energy Development and Conservation manager, said staff at the cities endorsed the proposal. The rate will also make it possible for the cities to apply for grants to help pay for installation.

Grassell said changes in the energy charge for LED streetlights will mean savings of about $1.40 per light each month. The lower rate also could help Cashmere, Chelan, Entiat and Leavenworth secure state funding to cover up to 100 percent of the cost to install energy-saving LED streetlights. The new rate follows an inventory and audit of streetlights in cities served by Chelan PUD, Grassell said. In addition, the PUD installed test LED streetlights in five Wenatchee neighborhoods and asked for feedback. The few responses were neutral to positive. Not only do LED lamps use less power, studies show they increase safety and reduce night sky effects.

The next step for the project is to apply state funding available for transportation improvements in smaller cities (less than 5,000 in population). Chelan PUD is working with the cities to develop the application. Once the funding is secured, Chelan PUD will manage the project for the cities in order to receive better pricing.

Wenatchee World Article - January 9, 2018

In 2016, contractor Tanko Lighting conducted a county-wide inventory of some 4,000 street lights that may result in better street lighting in the future. PUD staff is evaluating potential benefits of upgrading to LEDS, including energy savings, less light pollution and truer light, which can improve public safety.

Most of the street lights in Chelan County are High Pressure Sodium. High Pressure Sodium street lights are less efficient and cast an orange, low-quality light. LED (light-emitting diode) street lights are energy efficient, have long life spans, produce superior color and light and may reduce maintenance costs.

S ample LED street lights are currently in place in a few Wenatchee neighborhoods.

We encourage your feedback on the sample LED streetlights. Send comments or questions to teka.sellers@chelanpud.org or call (509) 661-4294.

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Street Lighting FAQ's

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How will the inventory impact me?

You may see a Tanko Lighting auditor out and about. Auditors will be in towns and rural areas recording details about every street and area light in the county. This includes street lights owned and maintained by the PUD, street lights owned and maintained by cities, the state and the county, and area (yard-type) lights owned by the PUD for which customers pay monthly electric-use charges. If you have an area light, you may see a Tanko Lighting auditor on or near your property.
What are the benefits of LED?
- Energy efficient
- Provide cost savings to customer-owners and tax payers as a result of reduced maintenance and energy use
- Longer life span, requiring less maintenance
- Provides truer light (better color and light quality) for improved visibility
- Dark-Sky compliant
- Increased safety and security
- Would standardize LED fixtures throughout the county
- Supports the PUD’s energy conservation targets
When would new LED street lights be installed?

After the inventory data is reviewed, PUD staff may recommend replacing all PUD-owned street and area lights starting in 2017. The PUD also would work with city, state and county officials about converting street lights not owned by the PUD to LEDs.
Where can I see LED street lights now?
LED street lights have already been installed in these locations:
- Wenatchee – Fifth Street near Wenatchee Valley College
- Wenatchee – West end of the George Sellar Bridge
- Wenatchee – PUD Headquarters Building parking lot
- Wenatchee – PUD Warehouse Building on Hawley Street
- Chelan – All steel-pole lights in Chelan city limits
- Cashmere – Sunset Highway
Where will the sample lights be placed?
The project will include placing sample LED streetlights in a few Wenatchee neighborhoods. The sample lights will be installed in March 2016 for about sixty days.
Where do I report street light outages in my neighborhood?
Please call the PUD’s outage hotline at 509-663-8121.
What if I have an area light on my property?

An area light is mounted on a PUD-owned wood pole and is paid for by the individual customer it serves. The PUD’s contractor, Tanko Lighting, will include area lights in its inventory. We expect the inventory could reveal some billing discrepancies. If that’s the case with your light, the PUD may contact you. The PUD will provide more information to you directly if a plan is developed to retrofit all street and area lights.
Why do the new LED fixtures appear to be dimmer?

LED fixtures are not dimmer. High Pressure Sodium fixtures typically pool the light underneath the fixture, while LED fixtures are more efficient at delivery and produce an even disbursement of light.
When new street lights go in, what happens to the old ones?

When street lights are changed to LEDs, only the head of the light fixture is replaced. The pole and the mast remain intact. The High Pressure Sodium street light heads are removed and will be recycled.

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Street Lighting

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