March 28, 2016
Dear Sir or Madam,
In April 2015, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) approved our plans to upgrade all
Xcel Energy-owned High Pressure Sodium Vapor (HPSV) cobra head street lights to light emitting diode
(LED) fixtures. Over the next several months, Xcel Energy crews and contract crews will be working in
your community to replace these light fixtures and we are writing to provide you with additional
information about this project.
Why LEDs?
LED street lights are durable, long-lasting and cost effective and can lead to enhanced public safety while
delivering environmental advantages because they use less energy than HPSV lights. Xcel Energy is
working with several leading suppliers to provide the LED street light fixtures for this program and all
products must meet our specifications related to reliability, efficiency and safety.
How will the project work?
Xcel Energy contract crews will install LED replacement fixtures for all Xcel Energy-owned HPSV cobra
1
head street lights at the 100W, 150W, 250W and 400W equivalent levels. Xcel Energy will pay all costs
associated with the retrofits, including removal and salvage of old lights and installation of the new LED
fixtures. There are no costs to you for this replacement.
This project is a simple modification of the current street light rate structure that communities are familiar
using. With the new LED rates and fixtures, communities could save between 2-7% per light on their
average monthly street light bill. We will also offer LED fixtures for new construction projects in the same
sizes.
Street Light Comparison
Existing
HPSV Wattage
100
150
250
400
1
Equivalent
LED Wattage
39
65
155
246
This covers Xcel Energy-owned cobra head street lights street lights only.
What about customer-owned LED streetlights?
The PSCW has also approved new rates for customer-owned LED street lights. Please contact our
Outdoor Lighting Department at (715) 737-2445 to receive more information on these rates and options if
you have, or are considering, using customer-owned LED streetlights.
What happens next?
All Xcel Energy-owned HPSV cobra head street lights in your community will be retrofitted with new LED
lights from April to July 2016. Xcel Energy crews and contract crews from Donovan Construction will be
completing this work.
For further information please visit www.xcelenergy.com/LEDStreetLighting.
We look forward to bringing the many benefits of LED street lighting to your community.
Sincerely,
Christie Black
Project Coordinator, Outdoor Lighting
christie.a.black@xcelenergy.com
(715) 737-2445
Michael Herro
Manager, Community Relations
michael.j.herro@xcelenergy.com
(608) 789-3673
INFORMATION SHEET
WISCONSIN
LED Street Lighting
LED streetlights are durable, long-lasting and cost effective and
can lead to enhanced public safety while delivering environmental
advantages because they use less energy while delivering enhanced
visible light. After completing pilot programs and a technical analysis
of current products that meet our engineering requirements, we found
mainstream LED streetlights to be of utility-grade quality and on par
with the reliability standards we must maintain.
LEDs have a more efficient lighting pattern that reduce glare
and focus the light directly on the area to be lit.
Q. Will residents notice a difference compared to
the existing lights?
A. Yes. Old residential streetlight technology such as high pressure
sodium has less efficient light pattern that causes glare and light
trespass. New residential LED street lighting technology has a
more efficient lighting pattern that reduces glare and focuses
the light directly on the area to be lit (typically corners and
mid-block locations).
LED
Before
After
Before
After
High Pressure
Sodium Vapor
LEDs have better, broad spectrum
lighting than traditional high pressure
sodium cobra head-style streetlights
which spill excessive yellowish-orange
light away from the street and into
neighboring yards and windows.
Because existing poles are not being
moved, any unlit areas between poles
(corners and midblock locations) are
unchanged. However, due to the
uniformity of the light from LEDs,
the difference between lit and unlit
areas is accentuated.
All of our LED lighting is also “Dark
Sky” compliant which is a designation
given to outdoor lighting fixtures
that meet the International Dark
Sky Association’s requirements for
reducing the waste of
ambient light.
Q. What is the purpose of residential street lighting?
Q. How will the new LED rate compare to current rates?
A. Residential street lighting is different than downtown or highway
street lighting in that it’s meant to provide sufficient guidance
for pedestrians and vehicle traffic along residential streets by
illuminating corners and mid-block locations. In a downtown area,
lighting uniformity plays an important role due to the high volume
of pedestrian and vehicle traffic and to enhance the visibility of
buildings and storefronts. In highway lighting, particularly near
interchanges, exits or roundabouts, lighting uniformity is
also important.
A. Communities could save between 2 to 7 percent per light on their
average monthly street light bill.
Q. Are the new lights as bright as the old lights?
A. Yes. The light output (lumens) of the new LEDs is equivalent
to that of the old HPSV lights.
Q. What services does the LED Street Lighting rate include?
A. Our LED Street Lighting rate is a simple modification of the
current streetlight rate structure with which Wisconsin customers
are familiar.
Q. Will there be an up-front charge?
A. No. In addition to being able to offer an LED Street Lighting rate
that is less than the current rate, we will be able to implement this
program with no up-front charge to customers.
Q. When will the work take place?
Q. How will the program work?
A. Our crews and contractors will install LED replacements for
Xcel Energy-owned HPSV cobrahead lights on the existing
streetlight rate at the 100W, 150W, 250W and 400W equivalent
levels. Xcel Energy will pay all costs associated with the retrofits,
including removal and salvage of old lights and installation of
the new LED fixtures. There are no costs to communities for this
replacement. We will also offer LEDs for new construction
projects in the same sizes and a new LED rate for
customer-owned streetlights.
A. In April, work will begin in the La Crosse, Sparta and Blair areas.
For further information we also encourage you to visit
xcelenergy.com/LEDStreetLighting.
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