Decatur City Hall.

Georgia Power is replacing Decatur’s current high pressure sodium street lights to LED fixtures, but the light is a little too bright for some residents.

The city recently issued a press release addressing those concerns.

There will be 1,380 streetlight replacements in all, the city says.

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“Georgia Power has started replacing fixtures in the Winnona Park, College Heights, Lenox Place and Great Lakes neighborhoods,” the city’s press release said. “We anticipate that it will take approximately one month to complete installation city-wide. The new LED lights are brighter than sodium vapor lights and emit a much clearer light. It will be different and they change the lighting along the street. Once city-wide installation is complete, we will be working with Georgia Power to make adjustments and add light shields, so please bear with us as the new lights are installed.”

In July the delayed the replacement project, deciding to wait until 3000 Kelvin LED light fixtures were available because they are less bright than the 4000 Kelvin fixtures.

The city says the new lights are reducing energy consumption, improving visibility and “Preserving the night sky.”

At least one commenter on the city’s Decatur Minute blog says the lights aren’t doing much for her sleep schedule.

“Are you all aware that community members in Winnona Park are now being prevented from being able to sleep, because the lights are so glaring? I don’t think the lights should be installed prior to the shields being installed,” the commmenter wrote. “Community members have described the experience of the lights as akin to car headlights, bearing into their homes. This is horrible for everyone. We really need the shields.”

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