Puget Sound Energy is partnering with the state Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) in a far-reaching plan to upgrade thousands of street lights in smaller cities and municipalities in the PSE electric service area.

The campaign, called “Relight Washington,” focuses on converting more than 6,000 street lights owned by PSE from old, high pressure sodium bulbs to new, much more energy efficient LED ones. The TIB selected PSE to help administer grants of roughly $6 million so the replacement work can get done in the selected cities with a population under 5,000. The upgrades will happen over the next six years.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the Transportation Improvement Board to help our customers in smaller cities install LED street lighting. Those places might not be able to do it on their own,” said Jason Teller, vice president of Customer Solutions at PSE. “And with energy efficiency rebates from PSE that come with street lighting upgrade, we offer those small municipalities another great way to save money.”

There’s also the big monthly savings on power bills for the cities once the LED street lighting is installed. The LED fixtures use about 35% less electricity than the current ones. A longer life means fewer lamp replacements and less maintenance and supply costs: LEDs can last up to 70,000 hours (more than 15 years) compared to high pressure sodium lamps that only last up to 24,000 hours (about 6 years).

“After lots of planning, organizing and engineering work by all involved, we’re eager to get busy with Relight Washington on installing more and more LED street lights across our region, and for our customers to enjoy the benefits right away,” said Dawn Midtbo, manager of lighting at PSE.

The TIB — an independent state agency — was created by the Legislature to foster state investment in quality local transportation projects. The TIB distributes and manages street construction and maintenance grants to hundreds of cities and urban counties across Washington. Funding for TIB grants comes from revenue generated by a 3-cent statewide gas tax.

In addition to PSE, the TIB is working with other investor owned utilities in Washington — including Avista and Pacific Power and Light — to expedite the conversion process to small cities in other parts of the state.

PSE electric customers can learn more about energy efficiency lighting discounts for homes and businesses by going to pse.com/lighting.