Children play under the streetlights and can hide in the shadows. If walking at night carry a flashlight, or walk during the day. Lights are expensive. If the lamp burns out, the light won't work in an unexpected emergency. Turn the light off when not using it, or put it on a motion detector or timer.
Some motion detectors have alarms in addition to the lights.
Maybe you need a new washing machine. As a case study let's look at a typical streetlight situation. Installing and maintaining streetlights is expensive. To help out, utilities offer lease deals. Communities pay a fee every year, which might include the light, pole, maintenance, and electricity, instead of buying the lights and poles themselves.