Mississippi Power is in the process of installing more modern lighting down three major roads in Picayune.

The work is part of a rate adjustment agreement between the city of Picayune and the power company, which was approved at a recent Council meeting.

Public Works Director Eric Morris said the work will replace a total of 229 street lights with LED heads that will provide a higher quality light than the previous equipment.

“We’re just glad to see it happening and looking forward to a higher quality light,” Morris said.

Byron Hill, Mississippi Power manager in Picayune, said the lights are replacing old technology known as high pressure sodium bulbs, which used 250 watts of power. The new bulbs use only 160 watts and provide a light with a white hue, as opposed to the yellow hue emitted by the older bulbs. Hill said work to replace those lights began Monday along Memorial Boulevard.

Next on the list are lights along Goodyear Boulevard, then Highway 11 and finally Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

Hill said he initially told the Council the work would be complete by December of this year, but the crews are moving quickly so he estimates the bulbs should be changed out within the next week or two.

The rate structure agreement will mean the city will pay more monthly in exchange for the newer lights. Hill said that to his recollection the increase is about $1,000 per month.

In addition to using less electricity, the lights are also more reliable and as such will last longer, Hill said.