Warren considers buying streetlights from Ohio Edison

City leaders in Warren are considering a proposal to purchase the city’s streetlights from the utility company Ohio Edison and convert them to LED lighting. The idea was presented during a city council meeting as officials continue examining ways to improve the streetlight system and reduce long-term costs.  

A consultant who reviewed Warren’s lighting system told council members that the city currently has about 5,300 streetlights. The proposal would involve replacing all of them with LED fixtures at an estimated cost of roughly $3.6 million. According to the consultant, the energy savings from LED lights could offset the cost of the upgrade in about eight years.  

Supporters of the idea argue that owning the streetlights would give the city more control over maintenance and repairs. Councilman Greg Greathouse, who has been critical of Ohio Edison’s management of the system, said the utility often struggles to keep up with maintenance and accurate record-keeping. He believes the city could respond more quickly to outages if it controlled the equipment directly.  

The consultant also conducted an audit of the lighting system and reported that some of the lights billed by Ohio Edison may not actually exist or may have been counted incorrectly. The review identified around 300 discrepancies, which he estimates could mean the utility owes the city about $380,000 in overcharges.  

Ohio Edison representatives say they have not yet received a formal inquiry from the city about the findings but are willing to review any information Warren provides. The company says it values its partnership with the community and is committed to working with local officials to address concerns. 

City council has not yet made a final decision on whether to move forward with purchasing the streetlights, but discussions are continuing as officials evaluate the potential costs and benefits of taking control of the system.