Street Lighting
 

• Council's lighting budget
• Maintenance of lights
• Lighting complaints
• Energising new lights

Council is responsible for the cost of installation and upkeep of public lighting in streets and parks. Council works closely with SP AusNet in this area.
 
Residents are reminded that they can report lights not working, directly to SP Ausnet on 131 799.

Lighting problems reported to Council will be investigated by Council staff and followed up with SP AusNet.

Council's lighting budget

90% of the City's budget for the operation of street lighting is spent paying for electricity energy costs to Simply Energy, TRU energy and AGL and for operation and maintenance costs to SP AusNet.

The remaining 10% of the budget is spent on maintenance of street lights not maintained by SP AusNet. These lights generally include street lights installed on separate 'metered' circuits, special feature lights, and special (non-standard) lights.

Maintenance of lights

Maintenance of streetlights that are not working is generally undertaken by SP AusNet's preferred service provider, t squared. Reports of lights not working received by the City are forwarded to SP AusNet for repair. Repairs to the 'non standard' lights are performed by one of the City's electrical contractors.

Residents can ring SP AusNet direct on 131 799 to report lights not working. SP AusNet should generally advise that the light will be repaired within two working days. Under SP AusNet's Guaranteed Service Levels, if the street light is not repaired within two working days and the light is directly adjacent to the residents' premises, SP AusNet will credit $10 to the residents' next electricity account.

Street lights that are working 24 hours a day do not actually cost the Council any extra as Council pays a set fee per light. However lights that are on continuously do suffer a shorter life as a result. These lights should also be reported to SP AusNet on the above number.

Lighting complaints

Council investigates complaints of poor lighting or "dark" areas as received, and determines if further action is required based on the requirements of the Australian Standard for street lighting.

It should be noted that in many areas, poor lighting can be attributed to existing lights not working, the aging of the street lights or to the size and/or the location of street trees. The light output from most lights will diminish with age and SP AusNet generally replaces all lights on a four year cycle. The most recent replacement of all residential street lights across the municipality was completed by SP AusNet at the end of 2002.

The street lighting operation budget is generally only for the operation and maintenance of the existing street lighting network - not for the installation of new street lights, unless the new lights are replacing existing lights.

Where it has been identified that additional street lights are required, the capital cost to install any new street light, is referred to the Council's Capital Works Program. At budget time each year, Council gives consideration to the allocation of funds in the following years budget for the provision of new lighting.

Energising new lights

In newly subdivided areas, the street lighting does not get switched on immediately after installation. SP AusNet and t squared cannot turn the lights on until formally requested by the City.

Council policy states that for roads in subdivisions providing for through traffic, the lights will be energised as soon as the road is open for traffic. For other subdivisional streets, the policy requires that at least one house be constructed and occupied within a street, before a request to energise the lights in that street will be given to t squared.

As it is difficult and time consuming for Council officers to track developments within new estates, it would be of assistance if residents could contact the City when houses are completed in streets where the street lights have not yet been turned on.

Citizens wishing more information are invited to contact the City Infrastructure Division by phone or email latrobe@latrobe.vic.gov.au.