Ameren upgrading street and outdoor lights with LEDs

A change is coming from Ameren Illinois. The electricity and natural gas provider, which serves 1.2 million electric and 816,000 natural gas customers in central and southern Illinois, started a new program on Aug. 1 in which Ameren will gradually replace more than 300,000 company-owned street and area lights with LEDs. In a fact sheet on the 10-year initiative, Ameren stated the LEDs use 55 to 65 percent less energy than traditional bulbs, last up to 15 years and are expected to generate monthly savings of between $1.25 and $4.50 depending on the wattage of the bulb being replaced.