Reduce energy and maintenance costs while improving street light quality
Our LED Street Light Program is designed to help communities convert existing street lights to LED technology. Replacing traditional street lights with LED lighting can reduce energy and maintenance costs, while improving the light quality at street level. This program is the first of its kind in Indiana.
Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have a number of advantages over traditional, high pressure sodium (HPS) street light sources, including:
- Lower energy usage: Current estimates for the proposed program indicate a 22 percent reduction in energy costs.
- Longer lifespan: The new LED lights have a 10-year warranty and a 20-year expected life.
- Lower maintenance cost: Traditional HPS lights require service every 2-3 years on average.
- More visible and uniform lighting: LED lights produce a light that appears whiter, similar to moonlight. The result is a more uniform light pattern that improves visibility.
- Faster on-off switching: HPS lights take time to heat up once switched on, while LEDs turn on instantly.
How it works
This program is available to local governmental entities (cities, towns, etc.) in our electric service area. NIPSCO-owned street lights will be changed at no additional cost to participating communities.
Installation of the new LED street lights began in late 2016 and will continue through 2022.
Will the light color look different?
Traditional street lights have a yellow/orange color to them. LED lights produce a light that appears whiter, similar to moonlight. The result is a higher light quality that improves visibility.
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Will the lights be brighter?
LED lights are not any brighter than traditional street lights in terms of light levels (which are measured in lumens). However, the light they produce does appear cleaner and whiter, creates a more uniform light pattern and allows colors to seem more natural in the dark.
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Will the light pole look different?
Only the light head will change.
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Will all communities be changing to LED street lights?
All communities in NIPSCO’s electric service territory will see company-owned street lights retrofitted with LED technology. NIPSCO’s goal is to complete this work by 2022.
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What impacts will this project have on the community?
There may be intermittent lane closures while the retrofit project is completed to ensure the safety of workers and residents. The work will be performed during normal weekday business hours. All appropriate traffic control will be used.
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When will our community be scheduled for conversion of our street lights?
Street light conversions will begin in the northwest Indiana area and then move east across the service area until all communities have their street lights converted by 2022. Communities will be contacted once we confirm their schedule for conversion.
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Will the conversion to LED street lights reduce our street lighting costs?
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) still needs to approve the system moderation rate for converting to LED street lights, but it is expected to be less than the current rate.
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Is there anything our community needs to do to be included in the LED street light conversion program?
No action is needed. We will contact communities once we confirm their schedule for conversion.
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