Path cleared for smarter street lighting

A recent decision by the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) will make it easier for councils to introduce customised smart street lighting, according to Lighting Council Australia.

The AEMC ruling, handed down on 15 August, enables major electricity users to deploy more flexible and tailored metering. This means that local councils will be able to install micro meters on every street lamp, and in turn pay for exactly what they are using rather than a rough estimate based on the number of lights they have.

Lighting Council Australia CEO Malcolm Richards said that up until the AEMC decision, there had been no incentive for councils or other major providers of public spaces to adjust the lights based on local circumstances and needs.

“This ruling … will allow councils to have smarter, cheaper and better lighting that perfectly meets the needs of their communities,” he said

“When we get public lighting perfect, people won’t notice it because it’s always right for them.

“If you’re in a quiet back street where there are no cars around, you don’t want bright lights in your face. You want them dimmed down to a comfortable level.

“But on a busy street or in bad weather, you want maximum brightness.”

Richards said a recent trial in Canberra with 80,000 street lights had shown that the cost of smart lighting was recovered in just three years through energy savings. He added that with smart metering, the power bill would drop even further.

“The Lighting Council commends the AEMC for this far-sighted decision, and we hope to see councils and other keepers of community spaces taking advantage of it very quickly,” he said.

Image credit: iStock.com/Chris Gordon