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Committee orders review after businesses say private meters power town‑center streetlights
Summary
The Economic Development Committee asked staff to inventory town‑center streetlights tied to private meters and to get cost estimates from Ameren after staff and business owners raised safety and fairness concerns about privately metered streetlights.
The Wildwood Economic Development Committee voted to have staff identify every town‑center streetlight currently powered through a private or business meter and return with cost estimates and a recommended policy. The motion passed by voice vote after members expressed concern that private control of streetlights posed a public‑safety and equity problem.
City administrator Thomas Lee told the committee that two known locations—Bank of Houston and a church—have streetlights served through private electrical accounts because they predated a 2009 policy change that now requires public metering. Lee said demetering and installing separate public meters has a wide cost range in preliminary rough estimates (from roughly $15,000–$30,000 per location) and that a full inventory is needed to calculate total exposure to the city.
Committee members stressed safety and the city’s interest in operational control. One business owner present said the city had threatened legal action over lighting but told the committee he was willing to work with staff; members said they would reach out directly to affected owners to ask they temporarily restore lighting while staff completes its review. Several members suggested phased approaches: short‑term reimbursement of bills while longer‑term demetering or lease arrangements are developed.
The committee directed staff to: (1) produce a count of similar meter arrangements across the town center; (2) request Ameren provide billing or usage guidance and an order‑of‑magnitude cost to separate meters or to lease control; and (3) return with fiscal implications and a recommended amendment to the city’s de facto policy or a resolution to formalize the change. The committee asked staff to include a 12‑month usage comparison where possible to estimate typical annual energy costs.
Because the committee emphasized safety, members also asked staff to consider interim measures to ensure lights are on at high‑traffic intersections while the study is completed. The committee will review staff’s findings at a future meeting.
