Traffic lights that have flashed red and street lights that have remained dark to save money in Mountain House will be turned back on, the community’s board of directors voted Wednesday night.

The district estimates the changes will cost about $25,000 in electricity and other costs. The district plans to use a donation from Trimark Communities to cover the expense.

Six traffic lights will be affected, including signals at the intersection of Mountain House Parkway and Van Sosten Road, Mascot Road and Arnaudo Road.

District employees recommended that the traffic signals be turned on because there is more traffic in the community. They also recommended lighting all street lamps to help prevent copper wire thefts that have hit the area in recent months.

Several thousand feet of copper wire from utility boxes has been stolen since the end of 2009, said Paul Sensibaugh, district general manager. He said it has cost about $30,000 to replace.

The board also decided how the district will refund residents who were improperly charged late fees on water bills. Residents have one year to make a claim, and business manager Gay Giles said each case will be looked at individually to make sure the district makes no mistakes. She estimated credits to accounts could take up to six weeks.

Sensibaugh is unsure how much the refund will cost the district.

In January, the board voted to refund the $100 water reconnection charges to active accounts, because the district failed to notify residents of the charge on their shutoff notices. The district estimates the refunds for that month will cost about $12,000.