Akron Council Member Seeks Fix for Streetlight Outages
Council Member Jan Davis is demanding a formal repair plan from FirstEnergy to address persistent neighborhood power issues.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Utilities
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City Council Member Jan Davis has requested that FirstEnergy provide a formal corrective action plan to address widespread streetlight outages in Akron. Residents have raised concerns about non-functioning lights in their neighborhoods, prompting officials to evaluate the current state of local infrastructure.
Why it matters
The request aims to tackle persistent outages caused by factors such as theft, damage, and aging infrastructure, which have left many residents without working streetlights. Officials are weighing the reliability of the current system against the significant financial implications of a full-scale LED conversion.
While only 10 percent of city streetlights have been upgraded to LED, transitioning the entire system would increase annual energy costs by more than $800,000. These newer lights provide a 40 percent reduction in energy consumption.
The players
Jan Davis
Jan Davis is a member of the Akron City Council who represents Ward 4 and is leading the legislative inquiry into utility reliability.
FirstEnergy
FirstEnergy is an electric utility company that maintains the majority of streetlights in Akron through the Efficiency Safety Incentive Program.
The details
Outages are being attributed to various issues, including wire theft, construction damage, rodent activity, and aging infrastructure. Akron currently requires construction projects to utilize existing underground conduits to help prevent future disruptions to power lines.
Timeline
June 12: Utilities Coordinator identified primary causes for the ongoing streetlight outages.
October 15, 2026: Council Member Jan Davis requested the corrective action plan.
October 20, 2026: A neighborhood meeting regarding outages is held at Canyon Trail Park.
Market Landscape
The city manages local lighting through the Efficiency Safety Incentive Program, which currently limits rapid modernization due to long-term cost constraints. This approach pits the need for immediate, reliable infrastructure maintenance against the high capital expenditure required for widespread LED upgrades.
Akron residents currently experiencing darkness on their streets can report specific issues directly to the city by using the 311 line or the online portal. These reports are essential for documenting the scope of the outages while the council pursues a long-term repair strategy.
The takeaway
Reliable city lighting remains a balance between immediate infrastructure repair and the long-term budgetary impact of energy upgrades. Residents are encouraged to participate in upcoming meetings to ensure their specific neighborhood concerns are included in the council's formal plan.
What happens next
A neighborhood meeting to discuss streetlight outages is scheduled to take place at Canyon Trail Park on October 20, 2026.
Further reading
Find more details on municipal infrastructure and power services on the Akron Utilities page.
More information
To report a non-functional streetlight in your neighborhood, please submit a request via the Akron 311 online outage reporting form.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Signal Akron.
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