The immediate outlook is dark for an idea to switch Mount Airy streetlights to the better-quality LED format, as illuminated by a new study on the plan’s feasibility.

Two members of the city board of commissioners, Jon Cawley and Steve Yokeley, china led lighting first suggested such a switch more than a year ago, seeing it as a way save taxpayers big bucks with less energy consumption.

However, research by city Public Services Director Jeff Boyles shows that wouldn’t be the case under existing circumstances.

“It doesn’t appear there’s going to be any savings to the city,” Boyles said when presenting his findings to the board during a meeting Tuesday.

The main factor surrounds Mount Airy’s inability to own the streetlights, 7W LED Panel Light according to Boyles’ presentation. It revealed that the lights typically are possessed by companies such as Duke Energy and Progress Energy, which are paid a monthly fee by municipalities for their use.

An LED, or light-emitting diode, is a semiconductor lighting source that allows LED streetlights to normally produce the same amount, or higher, luminance as traditional lighting, while requiring only half of the power consumption.

One thing that sparked Cawley’s and Yokeley’s interest in converting to 13W LED Panel Light here was a situation in Asheville, which recently was allowed to own its LED streetlights in contrast to the typical arrangement with power companies.

Upfitting that city’s lights with high-efficiency LEDs saved $130,000 in one year, according to a progress report on the project whereby Asheville was allowed to own lights powered and maintained by its electrical supplier.

But Asheville is serviced by a different provider than Mount Airy and therein lies the rub, according to Boyles’ study.

Although Duke and Progress merged, Duke Energy Progress (commonly known as Progress) and Duke Energy Carolinas (Duke) are separate companies, with Mount Airy being part of the Duke service area.

Duke does not allow customer-owned streetlights, despite requests from larger cities for that, and has no plans to do so, which Boyles said eliminates the possibility of Mount Airy realizing possible benefits from such ownership.

Progress, which serves Asheville, also is phasing out the ownership option, the public services director said.