Time:01/07/2012 Visits:

A law to phase out incandescent lights has taken effect as New Hampshire’s only electric cooperative announced to become the first utility in the Granite State to replace HPS lighting with LED technology for its outdoor lighting program.

Officials launched a new initiative Jan. 1 that’s expected to phase out other types of co-op-owned lighting fixtures within a few years.

Currently, the co-op owns about 4,600 outdoor area lights, and has informed companies, communities and consumer-members who lease the equipment that they will have three models of LED fixtures to choose from as existing bulbs require replacement.

According to Seth Wheeler, communications administrator for New Hampshire Electric Cooperative.  “We’ve got street lights and the type of floodlight fixtures typically seen in parking lots. So we are offering two cobrahead roadway designs and a floodlight fixture.”

The switch to LED technology is also expected to simplify accounting for the lighting fixture leasing program. New Hampshire Electric has established a new LED lighting fee schedule.

The new rates reduce the monthly rental rate for roadway fixtures by 90 cents or $2.70, contingent on the model, while floodlight rates will increase by $1.90 a month, Wheeler said. “We should be able to complete the transition within the next two years.”