PNM Streetlight Conversion Project in Santa Fe

Frequently asked questions:

Q. What is this project all about?
A. The City of Santa Fe has requested that all streetlights be converted to LED. Santa Fe is working with a contractor to convert all city-owned lights, and PNM will be converting all PNM-owned streetlights to LEDs at the same time.

Q. Why convert to LED?
A. There are many benefits to converting streetlights to LED, including energy efficiency, better quality of light, and less maintenance because LEDs have a longer life span.

Average design life of a traditional High Pressure Sodium (HPS) and Mercury Vapor (MV) Lamp is 25,000 Hours. Average design life of the LED fixtures replacing the old lights is 100,000 Hours.

Not only are LEDs less maintenance, they also have a great environmental impact. The LED lights consume about 50 percent less energy when compared to their HPS and MV luminaire predecessors.

The LED fixtures that are being installed have been designed to provide an improved distribution of light, while protecting the night sky. The LEDs shed light along the roadway, increasing visibility in dark spots between streetlight poles, rather than solely dumping light directly below streetlight fixtures as the HPS luminaires did. The LEDs are also designed to reduce the amount of back-lighting that spills behind the streetlight pole and onto adjacent properties.

Q. When will the project start/end?
A. The project is projected to begin Mid-June and will be completed by Late October.

Q. Which streetlights will be converted into LED?
A. A total of 5,556 of streetlights in Santa Fe will be converted to LED, including 2,057 PNM-owned streetlights. Only lights within Santa Fe will be converted to LED as part of this project. Not all lights in Santa Fe County will be converted during this project. The remaining 3,499 streetlights will be converted separately through a City of Santa Fe contract.

Q. When will the streetlights in my neighborhood be converted?
A. The streetlight areas within Santa Fe have been broken into phases, with the first phase starting in July 15, 2024. The crews will complete the conversion of each phase before moving on to the next. You can view the map of the phases of the project online.

Please note, private lights and streetlights owned by Neighborhood Associations/Homeowner Associations will not be converted. Lights owned by PNM but classified as "yard lights" will not be converted.

Q. Will I be seeing PNM trucks in my neighborhood?
A. Not for this project. PNM will be working with a contractor, and they will be completing the conversion on behalf of PNM. However, if you have any questions regarding this project, please call PNM at 888-DIAL-PNM. 

Q. I have a private light that PNM maintains. Will that be converted to LED?
A. No. Only streetlights are being converted to LED at this time. PNM will not be converting privately owned lights or floodlights during this project.

Q. What color will the LED lights be? Will they match the lights that the City of Santa Fe is installing?
A. The LED lights will be a more true "white light" vs. the soft yellow that we currently have. LED wattages will be equivalent to existing light wattages. PNM is working with City staff to ensure the color of light will match the color of City-owned streetlights. PNM will be installing lights that are compliant with NMDOT safety for roadway use and will take into consideration Night Sky were standards will allow.

Q. Will these lights cause more light pollution? Are they going to be in compliance with the city's Night Sky ordinance?
A. One great benefit to LED streetlights includes enhanced night visibility, which is important for public safety. PNM is working with closely with the city, and we will be installing lights that are compliant with NMDOT safety for roadway use and will take into consideration Night Sky were standards will allow. LEDs help cities with dark sky initiatives, as light is more directed towards the ground.

Q. Who do I call if I see a streetlight out?
A. Any time you see a streetlight that is out, please report it by using the online tool at PNM.com/streetlights, by calling PNM at 888-DIAL-PNM, or chat with a customer service rep online at PNM.com, M-F, from 7:30am to 6pm. Please be as detailed as possible about the location of the light.

Q. If I report a streetlight out in the city of Santa Fe during the conversion, will that light get repaired?
A. If a dark streetlight is reported within an area that will be converted to LED within two weeks of the report, PNM will not fix that light. If the reported light is in an area that has already been converted to LED, or in an area that will not be converted within the next two weeks, we will replace that light.