Akron streetlights LED upgrades hampered by costs

Covered by Documenters Wittman Sullivan (see his notes here) and Gigi Fuhry (see her notes here)

At the May 15 Ward 3 meeting, Akron residents again raised concerns about persistent streetlight outages across the city. Utilities Coordinator Joe Kunzler acknowledged the problem, calling Akron’s streetlight situation “embarrassing.”

He pointed to a mix of outdated infrastructure, wire theft and cost barriers that have stalled a full transition to LED lighting.

During the June 12 Ward 6 meeting, Kunzler told residents that street light outages are caused by many things, including:

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The City of Akron said that most of its streetlights are maintained by Ohio Edison, which provides the city with a lower-than-average electric rate for streetlights through the Efficiency Safety Incentive Program (ESIP).The lower rate through this program would not be available to Akron if it switches to LED lighting.

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Completely switching to LED lighting, city officials said, would increase Akron’s annual energy costs by more than $800,000.

City officials explained that, while LEDs consume about 40% less energy and need less maintenance over time, replacing entire fixtures can be expensive.

At the same time, the city is dealing with higher maintenance costs. Many high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights have remained in service since the 1970s. They have required minimal upkeep. As major manufacturers have phased out production, the city now relies on third-party bulbs. These bulbs don’t last as long according to officials.

Only about 10% of Akron’s streetlights have been converted to LED so far. The city stated that they have concentrated these upgrades in historic business districts — sometimes referred to as “Great Streets” — and alongside major road projects such as those on Main Street between Cedar and Perkins, East Exchange near the University of Akron and Romig Road. For lights owned by Ohio Edison, repairs are made based on resident complaints.

At this time, there is no citywide timeline for a full LED transition, according to city officials.

Residents spoke about outages in specific areas, including near the All-America Bridge, also called the Y Bridge. Kunzler said the wiring there has been vandalized multiple times.

On streets with fewer homes — like Dart and Rand avenues and Bartges Street — copper wire theft is more common, he said. In these areas, the city is making changes such as replacing copper wire with aluminum, stringing wires overhead where possible and leaving lights on all day to deter theft.

When asked if LED lights are more likely to be stolen, Kunzler said theft depends more on wire access than bulb type.

Streetlight outages are reported to Ohio Edison via 311, the city’s mobile app, or directly to the utility. Kunzler said the city doesn’t receive updates on the status of reported outages and response times vary.

Besides 311, Kunzler said residents can reach out to the city by:

What remains unclear is when or how repairs happen or if anyone with the city is keeping track.

Still, as the city works through infrastructure challenges, reporting outages remains a key way for residents to prompt repairs and support progress toward more reliable street lighting.

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LeKesha is a writer, artist and marketing professional with a passion for storytelling and community engagement. Based in Akron, she brings a multidisciplinary approach to her work, blending poetry, graphic design, painting and photography. In addition to her creative pursuits, she serves on the board of the League of Women Voters Akron Area and works for a nonprofit focused on uplifting the community. With a background in marketing and a commitment to civic involvement, LeKesha is dedicated to using her skills to inform, inspire, and empower others.

Akron Documenters trains and pays residents to document local government meetings with notes and live-tweet threads. We then make those meeting summaries available as a new public record.