Columbia Street lighting rate ordinance (§ 27-121.3)
Chapter 27: Utilities · Article III. Water and Light System
In short: Street lighting on the city's electric system is billed monthly by fixture. Rates run from $7.65 (100-watt high pressure sodium, overhead, existing pole) to $33.57 (400-watt, underground, steel pole), with a dual-arm 400-watt steel-pole fixture at $67.14.
Our plain-English summary, not the official text or legal advice. The ordinance below is what counts.
(a) Availability. The street lighting rate is available to any customer within the area served by the city's electric system for street lighting when such lighting facilities are unmetered and operated as an extension of the city's distribution system.
(b) Type of service. The city shall furnish, install, maintain and deliver electric service to automatically controlled lighting fixtures conforming to the department's standards and subject to the published rules and regulations of the city's water and light department.
(c) Light and fixture rates per month. Light and fixture rates with lamp size, lamp type, service type, pole type and standard pole-bracket arm mounted are as follows:
100 watt high pressure sodium post-top-luminaire underground service .....$11.65
100 watt high pressure sodium overhead service on existing pole .....7.65
100 watt high pressure sodium overhead service new pole placement .....8.65
100 watt high pressure sodium underground service on existing pole .....12.77
100 watt high pressure sodium underground service new pole placement .....13.77
175 watt high pressure sodium overhead service on existing pole .....8.10
175 watt mercury vapor overhead service new pole placement .....9.10
250 watt high pressure sodium overhead service on existing pole .....9.18
250 watt high pressure sodium underground service on steel pole .....30.59
400 watt high pressure sodium overhead service on existing pole .....15.75
400 watt high pressure sodium overhead service new pole placement .....16.75
400 watt high pressure sodium underground service on existing pole .....20.87
400 watt high pressure sodium on special aluminum pole .....24.13
400 watt high pressure sodium underground service on steel pole .....33.57
400 watt high pressure sodium underground service new pole placement .....21.87
Exception: Dual arm bracket with 400 watt high pressure sodium underground service on steel pole .....$67.14 per month
Official source: City of Columbia official Code of Ordinances (online): look up Sec. 27-121.3
Text from Supplement 139 (September 3, 2026).
Last checked November 1, 2026. The city's official copy controls; this page is a reading copy, not legal advice.