New wiring sought for failing High Street lighting
POTTSTOWN » Frequent street light outages in the 200, 300 and 400 block of High Street have moved the borough to take the problem to PECO in search of a more permanent solution than spot repairs.
But the interim solution may be a little ugly for a while.
“It’s really starting to become a problem for us and we have taken this to PECO as something we consider very seriously, providing street lighting in that area,” Justin Keller, Pottstown interim borough manager, told council on March 7.
“Right now, we’re in discussions to have them replace the entire underground wiring system that feeds the street lights along High Street,” said Keller.
“What happens is they come and replace a certain section and then the next section blows out. The problem with that line is its so old, the whole thing needs to be replaced one time,” Keller said.
“The bad news is its going to have to be designed, so it will take six months or more before they can actually put the shovels in the ground,” Keller said.
“So in the interim, we’re going to be working with them to string up aerial wires between the street lights to at least provide some lighting and provide more of a safe environment in that area,” Keller explained.
“It’s not going to look that nice, but as long as its only temporary we’re going to do that for the benefit of our residents,” he said.
Two years ago, borough council took a pass on a multi-municipal project undertaken by 40 municipalities throughout southeastern Pennsylvania to replace all street lights with lower-energy LED lights that reportedly would have saved about $2 million in energy costs over the life of the 1,821 new LED fixtures lights.
Ultimately, a project spokesman said, the borough can either pay more than $3 million over the next 20 years for its current street lighting system, or save between $1.5 and $2 million over the same period by changing to LEDs.
However, council’s finance committee, led by council President Dan Weand, recommended against joining the project, arguing that despite the savings, the up-front costs represented more debt than the borough should take on.
Several municipalities surrounding Pottstown, including Lower Pottsgrove, participated in the project.
Using LEDs would not only have put new street lights through out town with a life expectancy of 25 years, but would have reduced the borough’s electric bill between $92,000 and $99,000 a year, a project spokesman said at the time.
Currently, an ad hoc committee is trying to find ways to cut the borough’s costs in the wake of a 12 percent tax hike. To date, nothing has been announced or implemented.
“What happens is they come and replace a certain section and then the next section blows out.”
Justin Keller, Interim Borough Manager