Hillsdale Officials Consider Energy-Efficient Field Lighting

Hillsdale officials are seeking a way to get out of paying a $1,100 fee charged by PSE&G eight months each year due to the large amount of electricity available at Centennial Field.

One possible option is to install new LED light fixtures, which would reduce the amount of electricity used and drop the field's annual power bill from $28,000 to $12,000, including the "standby charge."

The power bill is split between the borough and sports groups which use the field. Mayor Max Arnowitz said that the groups had reduced their power use, but the fee is charged regardless of how much electricity is actually used.

"That standby fee is a killer," Arnowitz said.

The LED fixtures would come with a high price tag for installation at more than $600,000. It would take years for the borough to see savings, Council President Tom Kelley said.

"We're not going to see savings for a while, but eventually it could be significant," he said. The LED lights are estimated to last 40 years.

Another issue with the proposal is that PSE&G would have to agree to remove their equipment which makes the large amount of electricity available at Centennial Field. Otherwise, the borough will still be hit with the standby charge regardless of how little power is used. Without that fee, the bill would drop even further to less than $4,000.

Officials said they would continue to investigate more ways to save on their power bill and avoid the standby charge.