(Photo courtesy Roberta Bonaski - Glendale)

APS presents an honorary check to Glendale city leaders for their LED streetlight conversion program.

Local cities are getting checks from utility companies after switching to more energy-efficient streetlights.

Glendale is among the first to get a rebate from Arizona Public Service for replacing old street lamps with LED lights.

In 2017, the city switched out about 10,000 bulbs for the more energy-efficient LEDs.

Based on a similar project with Phoenix, APS gave Glendale $430,000 in rebates for the lighting upgrades.

“LED is the technology of the future. I think we’ll see cities switch because the savings are so big," said David Beard, Glendale city engineer. "It’s about a 60 percent savings in electric consumption.”

Beard says a streetlight that cost about $12 a month to stay lit will fall to $7 with the switch.

“The energy reduction is about 60 percent so what used to be a 100-watt light is now a 33-watt light," Beard said. "And that equates to about a 40 percent savings in cost.”

Beard said LEDs last longer, and that all Glendale street lights will eventually make the switch.