ssmpucAt its August 26 meeting, the PUC Services Inc. Board of Directors were advised by staff that a proponent has been selected for the LED Streetlight Conversion contract. The board was also pleased to learn that the conversion will save an estimated $1 million annually and that the project will be paid off eighteen months earlier than first anticipated.

PUC is pleased to announce that, Alltrade Industrial Contractors Inc. was the successful bidder and has been awarded the LED Streetlight Conversion contract. The all-inclusive project costs are in line with the initial estimate of approximately $9 Million, which includes design, supply and installation of fixtures, including wireless adaptive controls, as well as PUC costs related to the work. PUC staff also report that the project’s payback period has been shortened to about 8 years and that the conversion will lead to an overall positive cash flow beginning the first year after completion.

With the contract awarded, engineering design is in progress for the conversion of Sault Ste. Marie’s HPS (High Pressured Sodium) streetlights to Light Emitting Diode (LED) type. Presently, there are approximately 9,050 HPS streetlights, most of which were installed 20 to 25 years ago. Construction is scheduled to begin in October, and the project is anticipated to take one year to complete.