PA DEP Offers Municipal LED Street Lighting Workshops for FirstEnergy Customers

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is helping municipalities take advantage of light-emitting diode (LED) street lighting through a series of workshops for local municipal officials in the FirstEnergy electric utility territories of Penelec, West Penn Power, Penn Power, and Met-Ed.

Recently, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved new rates for utility-owned LED street lighting service in the FirstEnergy electric utility territories. This allows those utility companies to offer LED street lights for the first time to their municipal street lighting customers. LED technology can replace the existing, less efficient high pressure sodium lights currently installed in most municipalities. In most cases, lighting can be replaced with no upfront costs to the municipality. 

"DEP is pleased to partner with local governments to teach them about the cost savings, energy reduction, and lighting benefits of the LED street lights," said DEP Secretary John Quigley. "This technology will help our local governments save money, reduce energy use, and prevent crime."

The workshops are offered free of charge and will be held from 9 a.m. to noon at the following locations:

• Tuesday, October 20 at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center in Erie, Erie County
• Wednesday, October 21 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Canonsburg, Washington County
• Friday, October 30 at Celebration Hall in State College, Centre County
• Monday, November 9 at Cabela's Conference Center in Hamburg, Berks County

The workshops will cover LED technology, the new street lighting rates, simple methods to assess the savings potential, and what steps are necessary to upgrade to LED lighting. Pre-registration is required. Space is limited, so registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Register online here.

LED lights have many advantages over traditional street lighting sources. LEDs lower energy consumption, have a longer lifetime, and improve lighting quality.

For more information, or if you have questions about the workshop, please contact Geoff Bristow, DEP Regional Energy Manager, at 814-332-6681 or visit the DEP website at www.dep.state.pa.us and click on the LED Street Light Workshops button or click here.

MEDIA CONTACT: Amanda Witman, 717-787-1323

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection

Related Links

http://www.depweb.state.pa.us