The city is expected to complete installation of LED streetlights by April, marking the completion of a yearslong acquisition project. The transition reduces operating costs and carbon emissions while granting the city greater control over its lighting. City-owned streetlights also notify staff when they go down, allowing for quicker repairs.
Work first began in 2021, just after the city reentered its franchise agreement with Xcel, said Carolyn Elam, the city’s senior manager for energy and air quality sustainability. Since then, the city has purchased more than 4,400 streetlights from Xcel, a process that took until 2024. Delays came from the need to create a proper inventory of the lights and the complexity of obtaining ownership, especially when the fixtures remain on Xcel power poles. During the conversion to LEDs, troubleshooting the infrastructure and separating it from Xcel’s systems was also difficult.
“So I think we originally thought we’d have it done more like 2023 or so,” Elam said.
As of Feb. 11, 94% of installations had been completed, said city electrical engineer Lex Telischak. The remaining work is expected to wrap up this spring.
Bringing lights under city control is expected to save around $1 million annually in operations and maintenance, according to the city. As LEDs, they will also last longer. The city also added enhancements that allow staff to adjust brightness, which Elam said can help improve safety.
She said community feedback regarding the change has been positive, crediting installers for their high-quality work and city staff for effectively responding to resident concerns, such as a new light pointing into someone’s window.
“I think we’re really happy with the outcome of the project,” Elam said.
Only took 14 months to get the ‘new’ one in my neighborhood to work—and then it was an Xcel crew that did it.
I think the new streetlights are great. Brighter, more spread of light, and glad they are LED to reduce energy costs. Kudos to the City for getting this done.
Joan, Boulder
They may be 94% complete in terms of installs — doesn’t mean there’s any light. They came and replaced the (functioning) light on our street with the new led one and it has never worked (only light on the street). The city’s response is that there’s a problem with the power to the pole and its xcel’s fault. Xcel of course is telling the city to pound sand. Of course, the light worked right up until the moment the city arrived to improve it. Been a year now.