Now that the North Dakota Public Service Commission has approved Xcel Energy’s tariff plan to convert city streetlights to LEDs, the utility is making plans to make that conversion.
"We're planning to begin the roll-out in the spring of 2016, after the weather gets a little bit nicer," said Xcel's Dave Sederquist. "We are going to focus our efforts in North Dakota. And during the year, we thing we can have the 3500 lights converted by the end of the year."
Sederquist says this is still an optional program – so the cities would have to approve the replacements.
"We are planning to work closely with the various municipalities," Sederquist said. "They have the option to have the lights converted, or not. It's their choice."
Sederquist says the new LED lights may initially cost more, but are more efficient and brighter, are longer lasting, and will actually save money in the long run.
"They should reduce bills by 3 to 5 percent," Sederquist said.