Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) and Jackson Township have reached an agreement on the replacement of 700 to 900 street lights with LED fixtures, as the Jackson Township Council approved the execution of a non-tariff agreement between the two parties.

According to Township Attorney Jean Cipriani, the council’s recent action is the final result that came out of a meeting between representatives of JCP&L, local and state government officials, and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in September.

According to municipal officials, once the project has been completed, the new LED lightings could save Jackson up to 25 percent in its annual energy costs.

Initially, a fundamental difference regarding the average cost per unit of the lighting fixtures had Jackson and JCP&L at odds.

The energy provider estimated each unit would cost up to $3,000, according to Township Engineer Dan Burke, while independent estimates from other vendors put the price at about $600 per fixture.

In the agreement documents provided by the township, the cost for the new LED “cobra head” fixtures, could cost between $870 and $995 per unit (including equipment and labor), depending on wattage and light output.

The U.S. Department of Energy is expected to support $464,500 grant cover the entire cost of the LED fixtures and their installation.