LAWTON – Public Service Co. of Oklahoma will begin converting Lawton streetlights to new technology that will brighten roadways, street corners and public spaces for homeowners, drivers and law enforcement.
LED conversion of 4,129 streetlights is set to begin this week, weather permitting, Region Communications Manager Wayne Greene said. The work will continue for several months and is projected to be complete by early next year, he said.
The new lighting will improve visibility for drivers and pedestrians, providing greater appeal and safety while strengthening connections in the community, Greene said.
Light-emitting diode streetlights are more efficient and longer-lasting than the high-intensity discharge (HID) lights they replace.
“HID lights are an obsolete technology and are being phased out industrywide. They are becoming increasingly expensive and difficult to find,” said Brandon Sirman, PSO customer service manager.
Unlike old-technology omnidirectional lights, the light from LEDs is more focused, meaning less of the illumination is wasted into the sky. LED lights also take less time to warm up and will eliminate the eerie yellow glow of old high-pressure sodium lights, improving night vision efficiently.
“LED lights produce a clearer light that will improve night visibility for everyone,” PSO External Affairs Manager Tim Hushbeck said. “I think our customers are going to be very happy with what they see.”
To date, Lawton is the largest municipality where PSO has undertaken conversion of streetlights, Greene said. PSO will finance installation and upkeep on the lights, while the City of Lawton will pay for the energy use at a discounted rate, Greene said.
PSO, a Tulsa-based unit of American Electric Power, is an electric utility company that serves more than 562,000 customer accounts in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma.