Are there fewer streetlights?
— Helen Eby

Yes.
According to City Manager Kevin Anderson, in October 2009, the electric utility initiated a program to reduce energy consumption and costs of street lights in the City of Dowagiac.
One part of the program called for removing street lights in areas where the number of street lights exceeded typical standards for street lighting.
Another part of the program consisted of pilot studies of higher-efficiency street lights.
“The goal of both efforts was to reduce electric consumption and reduce the cost of both electricity and system maintenance while maintaining safe intersections and neighborhoods,” Anderson said.
Since 2009, 66 street lights have been removed.
This is about a 7.8 percent reduction in the number of street lights in the city.
Also, 83 street lights changed to higher-efficiency bulbs.
It is estimated that electric consumption has been reduced by $6,800 annually.