The City of Martinsville located in the state of Virginia in U.S. plans to upgrade LED streetlight and electric water meters, reported WSLS 10. The project will cost the city US $7.9 million in total, and is still waiting for approval from the city council.

Most of the city’s water and electric meters have a lifespan of 20 years, but most of the city’s underground utilities are much older, said Director of Utilities Denis Bowles.

The city plans to outsource the digital upgrade to an outside contractor, and is also looking into switching to LED lighting technology.

“We’re talking every street light and every dusted light in the city,” said Bowles. “And, that equates to about 3,200 to 3,300 lights total.”

Initial investments for the city’s utility transformation is estimated to value US $7.9 million, but Bowles projected the city would be able to recover ROI within 13 years.

“When you couple to loss of accuracy, with labor savings, and the street light savings which is about $100,000 annually, it just made a good fit for us,” Bowles commented.

If the council approves the utility and streetlight installation upgrade, the city will might start installations by the start of summer 2016.