Andover pulls plug on 626 streetlights

Merrimack Valley

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August 18, 2009

By Brian Messenger

ANDOVER — More than a third of the town's nearly 1,700 streetlights are destined to go dark.

Selectmen approved a plan last night to turn off 626 streetlights in the coming months, a change they hope will save Andover $47,000 on its annual electricity bill. The board had already endorsed the initiative to cut streetlight electricity costs, but had yet to vote on a plan detailing individual utility poles to be taken out of service.

More than 175 streets will be affected by the decision.

The majority of the streetlights are owned by National Grid. The utility company will have 60 days to shut off power once it receives a list of individual poles affected by the plan.

National Grid spokesman David Graves said yesterday that only a handful of Massachusetts communities in the last year have chosen to cut utility costs by turning off streetlights.

Included in that group is Milton, where streetlights began going dark last month. In Dennis, the selectmen still must approve a final shut-off plan.

"A lot of towns were considering it," said Graves. "Only a handful have moved forward to actually do it."

Andover's plan is the result of a collaboration between the Public Works and Police departments. In developing the list of lights to be turned off, police safety officer Chuck Edgerly surveyed every streetlight in town. Lights will remain on in front of schools, at intersections, at dangerous curves and certain spots where there have been motor vehicle accidents.

The plan was approved last night, 3-2, with selectmen Jerry Stabile and Ted Teichert voting against it. Several residents also voiced their opposition.

Calling the plan "preposterous," Osgood Street resident Kenneth Ozoonian said many lights have been illuminated for decades and offer children, the elderly and people with disabilities a sense of security.

"It adds a little bit of security, a little bit of comfort to these people," said Ozoonian.

Selectman Mary Lyman defended the decision, saying that it was all part of a long process of identifying budget cuts that began over the winter.

"Lights are being turned off right in front of my home, so we're living with it," said Lyman. "And we've been living with these budget cuts since February."

To gauge the impact of the plan, the selectmen also voted to request a "progress report" from the electric company on streets where five or more streetlights will be turned off.

Work crews will place a red cap atop the utility poles to signify they've been turned off.

Individual streetlights cost the town between $60 and $231 each year to illuminate, depending on the bulb in use, according to public works Business Manager Sandy Gerraughty.

The town will save on electricity costs by turning off the lights, but will still pay approximately 37 percent of the total cost per light to National Grid for various charges, she said.

Graves said the fees are for the maintenance of the lights and poles.

"It's considered a maintenance fee," said Graves. "The lights are not going to be abandoned or taken down."

The town has budgeted $300,000 for streetlight utility costs this year.

Andover is expected to save less than $47,000 this year under the plan, since the current fiscal year is already nearly two months underway.

The list of 626 streetlights has been posted on the town's Web site. Individual utility pole numbers are visible from the street. To see the list, go to www.andoverma.gov/polelist.pdf