West U City Council approves LED street light agreement to cut energy use

West University Place City Council unanimously approved an LED street light installation agreement with CenterPoint Energy on Oct. 13 to convert approximately 1,743 older streetlights to the new light technology in early 2026.

The project aims to improve energy efficiency by approximately 50%, provide better directional lighting and replace aging street lights that currently require frequent maintenance. The approved light installation agreement will convert the street lights over time with a locked-in rate, according to agenda documents. City Manager Dave Beach said the new LED lights could last for 10-12 years with a better color definition.

Digging deeper

Street lights in West University Place consist of high-pressure sodium vapor and metal halide bulbs, agenda documents state. CenterPoint officials told City Council in 2025 that the two types of lightbulbs used in the city were no longer being supplied by manufacturers. The supply change resulted in converting future street light repairs to LED replacements.

Assistant City Manager Austin Bishop said CenterPoint could begin installation of the new LED street lights in early 2026, with a completion time of two months.

“They offer better directional lighting as well,” Bishop said. “So we're getting a lot more of those lumens, which is where the light is really moving from. Those poles are more directionally pointed to where we want them to go on the streets instead of in your house."

The cost

No costs are associated with the conversion or converting of light poles to support the city’s transition to LED lighting, according to agenda documents.

Going forward

CenterPoint will test the new lighting in two specific areas in the city, with a brighter and higher output range of 46-70 watts in higher traffic areas such as Buffalo Speedway and the lower output range of 21-45 watts for residential areas. City officials did not disclose where the test sites will be located.