Torus Tammer
FOUNTAIN VALLEY -- The city is poised to snatch substantial savings as
the first participant in the statewide California LED Traffic Signal
Rebate Program.
The program was designed to reduce peak energy demand during the
summer months by replacing the regular bulbs in traffic lights with more
energy efficient bulbs known as light-emitting diodes. As an added
incentive, Southern California Edison, which operates the program, has
agreed to give the city a full rebate on the purchase price of the units.
Jose Alire, the city's associate engineer, said the city was fortunate
to be the first in line for the program.
"The city was looking at conserving energy for our traffic signals
anyway," Alire said. "We happened to have our figures ready right as
Edison came out with this rebate program, so we submitted an application
and were the first ones accepted."
All the bids the city has received from light bulb manufacturers have
come in at or below the rebate amount, Alire said.
The city will receive a full refund for the cost of the LED traffic
signals as long as they are installed and functional by June 1, said
David Ned Smith, Edison's vice president of major customers.
"It will result in substantial savings for the city and its
residents," he said.
The city expects to save about $56,000 annually.
Because the entire $166,430 purchase price will be rebated, the city
will be required to pay only $14,000 -- the cost of labor to install the
units. Alire said the city expects the units to be delivered by early
December and installed by January.
