Street lights could go out in Burien next week.

Seattle City Light has told Water District 49 that on Wednesday, Sept. 28, it will pull the plug on street lights within the district unless delinquent payments from the past three years are made by then.

Earlier this summer, City Light notified the water district that unless $100,000 in delinquent charges is paid by Sept. 1, the street lights could go dark.

Water District 49 used to charge its customers for the street lights, then paid City Light. However, the district stopped collecting this money in 2002.

No one has collected for street-light service during the past three years.

The city of Burien has been working with the water district and City Light to resolve the contractual dispute and keep the street lights on.

Hundreds of homes and businesses downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods will be affected if the street lights go dark.

Water District 49 commissioners have indicated they are willing to resume billing for street light service. But they have refused to collect for and pay City Light the delinquent $100,000.

Burien City Manager Gary Long has noted that while Burien has franchise agreements with utilities, the city does not provide water, sewer or power service to its residents. These services are provided by the publicly and privately owned utilities and special-purpose districts.

Long said last month that city officials "hope to resolve outstanding issues to maintain service to city residents living in Water District 49's service area."

Ralph Nichols can be reached at newsdesk@robinsonnews.com or 206-444-4873.