In Cost Dispute, Fitchburg Turns Off Half Of Utility-Owned Streetlights

The city of Fitchburg is trying to join a group of 70 cities and towns in the state that have bought their own streetlights to save money. But the community has hit a snag in negotiations with Unitil, which owns more than 3,000 of the city's lights.

Mayor Lisa Wong said Unitil is overcharging the city a claim company spokesman Alec O'Meara disputes.

"We want to give the city the best information on the streetlights we can, and have them make the decision as to whether or not buying the streetlights is the right decision for the city," Wong said. "And if they feel it's right for the city, then we said that we think that's what they should do."

In an effort to save money, the city has turned on only about half of the Unitil-owned lights.