Australian community streetscapes are set to be dramatically transformed through smarter, better and cheaper lighting due to an Australian Energy Market Commission ruling handed down today.
Lighting Council of Australia CEO Malcolm Richards said the AEMC ruling to allow more flexible and tailored metering for major electricity users would open up the pathway for local councils to deliver the perfect light setting for every environment.
The AEMC decision today will allow local councils 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.
“When we get public lighting perfect people won’t notice it because it’s always right for them,” Mr Richards said.
“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,” he said.
“But on a busy street or in bad weather, you want maximum brightness. Currently there is no incentive for councils or other major providers of public spaces to adjust the lights based on local circumstances and needs.
“This ruling today will allow councils to have smarter, cheaper and better lighting that perfectly meets the needs of their communities.”
Mr 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. With smart metering, the power bill would drop even further, he said.
“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.”
Lighting Council of Australia
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