LED Street Lighting Upgrade
LED Street Lighting Upgrade
Port Pirie Regional Council (PPRC), in conjunction with SA Power Networks, continually make improvements to the public lighting across our council area.
We are responsible for all public lighting on local roads and share responsibility for lighting on the main road network (arterial roads) with the Department of Infrastructure & Transport (DIT).
PPRC, in partnership with SA Power Networks and their subsidiary company Enerven is replacing over 2,000 of our old and inefficient street lights with new LED lighting.
The initiative is expected to cut Council’s street light energy and maintenance costs by up to 75 per cent.
Switching to LED lighting will save ratepayers’ money, help protect the environment and will improve visibility on roads and footpaths. During the roll-out Council will also be considering how best to respond to community requests for lighting as well as tackling lighting needs in priority areas around the City.
Street lighting is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions by local government in Australia. This project will reduce tonnes of carbon emissions by greenhouse gases a year.
Purpose of Public Street Lighting
Street lighting improves road user safety at night by illuminating roads and footpaths and makes it easier for people to drive or walk along streets at nights.
Street lighting is not designated to identify private property locations or provide property security lighting.
Who owns and manages Council street lights?
Port Pirie Regional Council pays for street lighting via public lighting and energy tariffs.
Most street lighting in South Australia is owned and operated by SA Power Networks as a service to Councils and the State Government.
Why is the Port Pirie Regional Council replacing street lights?
Street sighting is necessary but expensive to run. The transition to LED street lighting technology will significantly reduce the council’s energy consumption and provide an overall improvement to our street lighting network.
Greenhouse gas emissions and energy charged to council will be reduced per annum under the proposed changeover.
When does the project take place?
It is anticipated the Field Crews will be changing lights across the Port Pirie Regional Council area from the second week of October 2022 to the end of November 2022.
Which street lights are being replaced?
The Council’s strategy is to replace the old technology street lamps with lower energy LED lights.
Enerven will be progressively replacing older lights on residential streets with appropriate LED’s across the city. There are larger lights classified as ‘Vehicular (V) road lights’ that are used on major roads, intersections and at traffic control devices (such as roundabouts and speed humps).
How does new LED lighting compare to the old technology lighting?
The new lights being installed will be more energy efficient than existing lamps, require less maintenance and generate a warm to white light (around 3000 Kelvin). The white light generated from LEDs will vary from some existing street lights which can appear yellow (high pressure sodium) and amber (low pressure sodium). Another advantage of LED light being installed will be less back spill into properties due to improved optics. Although street lights may appear to be brighter (as they are newly installed lights) they will be more efficient in spreading light more evenly along and across footpaths and roads. Visibility along the street will also be improved and look more natural.
What do I do if I have concerns about the new LED street lights?
The installation of LED street lights will provide more light in your street is proven to reduce glare and therefore the lighting upgrade may in fact assist residents.
Where a resident can demonstrate that they are being significantly impacted on by light spill into their property from an adjacent street light, a solution will be investigated. In most cases the installation of a shield/visor device will only be considered where it does not reduce lighting levels below the relevant Australian Standards for the lighting of roads and public spaces (AS/NZS 1158). Where a shield/visor is assessed to be required, Council will give approval for Enerven to install one.
For any LED street light roll-out issues, residents can contact SA Power Networks by email LEDRollout@sapowernetworks.com.au or by completing the online form below.