Helena resident questions Peosta Avenue streetlight shield removal

Helena, Mont. — A Helena resident said the removal of three streetlight shields on Peosta Avenue left nearby neighbors dealing with added glare and raised new questions about who controls the lights and how lighting district money is used.

NonStop Local looked into the concern after resident John Podolinsky said NorthWestern Energy removed the shields in November of last year without giving him a clear reason. He said the change affected homes west along the street.

Streetlight shields are used across Helena to direct light where it is needed and keep it from spilling onto nearby property or shining into oncoming traffic.

Podolinsky said he contacted NorthWestern Energy several times but did not get a response. He then reached out to the City of Helena, where city crews went to Peosta Avenue and conducted a light study to measure what kind of light pollution was affecting his yard.

“They have this policy of removing light shrouds from any of the lights that they work on, and without any other kind of explanation as to why,” said Podolinsky.

City crews later told Podolinsky the light pollution was below a certain threshold. He said the city also told him it did not control the streetlights.

“Eventually the city came back and said that they had no control over the streetlights. Northwestern Energy does,” said Podolinsky.

Podolinsky also said he pays more than $42 each year to a lighting district and questioned how that money is being used for streetlight upkeep.

NonStop Local reached out to both the City of Helena and NorthWestern Energy to ask who owns the streetlights on Peosta Avenue and where taxpayer money goes for maintenance.

In an email, a City of Helena spokesperson said, “These streetlights are owned by Northwestern Energy. They are part of a lighting district managed by the city.” 

The spokesperson also said, “Once lighting districts are created, the city assesses property owners within the district to cover installation, maintenance and electricity costs. These payments are collected by the city and remitted monthly to Northwestern.”

The city spokesperson added, “The city did not request the removal of the shields on these lights. It is my understanding that Northwestern decided to remove the light shields after receiving complaints from residents about the intersection being too dim.”

NorthWestern Energy also responded. A spokesperson said, “Northwestern Energy removed a shield from a streetlight on Peosta Avenue due to safety concerns about adequate lighting of the intersection near the streetlight, as well as an elementary school and pedestrian crosswalk near the streetlight.” 

After hearing those responses, Podolinsky told NonStop Local he was not surprised and said he wants better streetlight management going forward.