The LED upgrade will save Port Macquarie-Hastings Council and the community about $320,000 a year in maintenance and electricity costs.

The new technology will result in a reduction in power use of about 410,000 kWh a year.

Acting director Andrew Doig said the council was committed to becoming a more sustainable organisation and the LED upgrade was one of the early initiatives outlined in the Long Term Energy Strategy that aimed to create energy and operational efficiencies in the years to come.

“Local street lighting costs around $1.16 million each year and the upgrade will go a long way to reducing this cost and provide significant long-term savings as LEDs are far more efficient, require less maintenance and use far less power,” he said.

“Council has invested $2 million to complete the bulk upgrade and we expect costs will be recouped within a period of less than five years.”

It is estimated that council will save around 31 per cent on maintenance costs and experience ongoing energy savings of around 61 per cent compared to traditional lighting technology.

Significant housing development across the region will see an increase in street lights added to the already extensive network and the LED installations are expected to present ongoing savings in this area.

There are about 7,400 street lights that light up our region.

That leaves about 2400 lights servicing areas such as main roads and town centres that are being considered as part of a future upgrade program.

Essential Energy owns and maintains street lighting on behalf of the council and is supporting this roll-out.

For more information on the council’s Long Term Energy Strategy visit pmhc.nsw.gov.au/energy or call the council on 6581 8111.