CDW/12/11 Cabinet 11 April 2012
Street Lighting Monitoring System
Report of the Head of Capital Development and Waste Management
Please note that the following recommendations are subject to consideration and determination by the Cabinet (and confirmation under the provisions of the Council's Constitution) before taking effect.
Recommendations: It is recommended that: (a) procurement of a remote monitoring system for street lighting is approved in principle, at an estimated cost of £1.7M, in line with paragraph 6 of this report; (b) approval of final funding is delegated to the Cabinet Member for Resources.
1. Summary
This report seeks approval for the procurement of a remote monitoring system for street lighting.
2. Background
In Devon, there are over 76,000 street lighting units 12,000 illuminated traffic signs, beacons and illuminated bollards. The revenue budget in 2012/13 for maintaining and operating the street lighting stock is £4.767M, of which £3.4m is for energy costs.
Street lighting accounts for 23.8% of the County Council’s carbon footprint (ref: Cabinet Report EE/11/12).
A new street lighting policy was approved in July 2007 (ref: EEC/07/216/HQ) and the decision to implement part night lighting in residential areas was approved in January 2009 (ref: EEC/09/8/HQ). This street lighting policy included a number of measures to reduce the energy consumption of the street lighting stock and, as a consequence, the carbon output from street lighting.
The adopted policy for the introduction of part-night lighting in residential areas means some streetlights that were previously on all-night long will now be lit between dusk and about 12:30am and will then be switched off until about 5:30am, they will then be lit from about 5:30am until dawn. The policy allows for some lights in residential areas to remain lit all night, for example on main routes through communities, at busy junctions, in areas of high night time activity, in areas of CCTV surveillance and where there is evidence of a need, which is supported by objective data.
The scheme for an individual community is finalised following consultations with the Police and Local County Councillor. The views of the community are fed in through the involvement of Parish and Town Councils.
The policy also allows for night dimming, where the intensity of lighting is reduced during the less busy night time period, where it is safe to do so.
The above initiatives are supported by a policy of replacing dilapidated equipment with new energy efficient alternatives. The use of some new technology is however not economic at the current time, for example LED lighting units.
New developments that include street lighting are required to provide low energy equipment and part night operation where appropriate.
3. Progress to date on Part Night Lighting
The energy used by street lighting produces an estimated 20,000 tonnes of CO 2 every year and the current programme will cut this by an estimated 4,000 tonnes a year. The approach to implementing part night lighting in a community has involved consultation with the Devon and Cornwall Police, local parish and town councils and local members. This has ensured that considerations of crime, disorder and road safety in residential areas are taken into account and evidenced during the decision-making process.
A list of communities where part-night lighting operation has been introduced is presented in Appendix I and progress to date in terms of lights converted is shown in Appendix II.
Since January 2010, some 30,000 instructions have been issued to convert lighting across Devon from all-night to part-night operation; of these over 28,000 have been completed.
As a result of these conversions electrical consumption dropped in 2010/11 from just over 37,000,000 kWh to an estimated 34,000,000 kWh at the end of 20011/12.
This reduction of approximately 3,000,000 kWh equates to a saving of £315,000 per year at current energy costs.
In addition to the power reduction and consequent cost saving, carbon emissions have reduced by about 1,600 tonnes. The street lighting carbon reduction programme is on target to deliver annual savings of 4,000 tonnes of carbon a year.
The introduction of the part-night policy, at a time of economic uncertainty for many, raised a number of concerns in respect of fear of crime and increases in crime and accidents. While the actual switching off of lights has worried some people and there have been some isolated incidents of crime, the feared increases have not materialised and in some instances the police have reported that crime rates have fallen. The County Council has worked closely with police at initial consultations to ensure that were necessary lighting has not been converted and also, where required, lighting has been restored to all-night operation following a review of local circumstances.
Implementation of part night lighting has been achieved by fitting revised photocells onto existing lighting columns. This has the advantage of being a cost effective way of achieving the policy objective of cost and carbon reduction. However, alternative systems are available that provide some extra benefits.
4. Central Management Systems for Street Lighting Control
Central Management Systems for street lighting offer an alternative to the current arrangements for management of the lighting stock and implementation of part-night lighting and night dimming.
The systems provide a more flexible solution, via a web based interface, to reduce lighting intensities incrementally and implement and adjust part night lighting and night dimming schemes. This can all be done from a central location, thus removing the need for site visits to adjust and change the lighting regime at individual columns.
The solution also gives warning of faults and gives notification of lighting failures. It removes the need for night scouting, as the system detects and alerts the street lighting team to lamp failures.
Some preliminary work has been carried out on available systems for the central management of street lighting. This has established that there is competition in the market. It has also determined that the initial up front investment in the systems would be paid back in a reasonable period due to the savings in energy and operational cost that can be achieved.
5. The Proposal
A proposal has been developed based on providing a fully flexible remote monitoring system with a web based interface which can be used for the whole of Devon. Initially, lighting in Exeter would be converted to the new system. This is a compact urban area with about 12,000 lights and it is the next large urban area for the roll out of the part night lighting policy.
The system would enable the County Council to dim or switch-off street lighting for part of the night. It would enable a combination of the two, so that lighting levels could be reduced progressively as traffic and pedestrian flows fall off, and then switch off for a period of the night. It would allow part-night lights to be switched back on in an emergency. It would identify lamp failures and lamps reaching end of life thus enabling a targeted approach to the to lamp replacement.
In common with all other part night lighting schemes in Devon, there would be consultation in accordance with the approved policy to agree the details of the scheme.
Based on a cost and lighting model for Exeter, an illustration for a number of competing systems has been obtained. Overall costs were requested for the system, including any annual maintenance and licence fees. Five companies were invited to submit scheme illustrations. The companies are all national players and include those who provide systems in Cornwall and Birmingham.
The submissions show a range of up front capital costs of £1.6m to £1.78m. Due to energy cost savings and operational cost efficiencies the pay back period for the up front investment in the systems ranges from 5.8 years to 8.8 years.
It is therefore recommended that Cabinet approve in principle the procurement of a remote monitoring system for street lighting. The system would initially be deployed in Exeter but would be expandable to other communities and it would be rolled out across Devon for future part-night lighting and night dimming schemes. It would also be deployed when existing lighting is upgraded as part of the programme of stock replacement. It would be a requirement for street lighting in all new developments in Devon to use the system.
6. Financial Considerations
The funding requirement for the establishment of the web interface and deployment of control equipment in Exeter would be about £1.7m. This investment, based on an analysis of the savings from part night lighting of residential areas of Exeter, and the associated energy savings, gives a payback period of about 6 years.
Funding could be phased over a number of years. The initial phase would be to procure the web interface and fit equipment to lighting columns in part of Exeter. Subsequent phases would be for further deployment in Exeter to match the pace of agreement of part-night lighting schemes across the city.
The estimated life of the electronic equipment fitted to lighting columns is 15years. Replacement of equipment at the end of its life would be funded from revenue in the same way as lamp replacements for example, are funded.
It is proposed that a funding package for the procurement of the system is considered by the Corporate Capital Officer Group and presented to the Cabinet Member for Resources for consideration.
7. Sustainability Considerations
The implementation of part-night lighting and night dimming schemes reduces energy consumption and costs. The proposed remote monitoring system provides an effective and flexible way of installing and subsequently managing and monitoring such schemes.
8. Carbon Impact Considerations
One of the key drivers for part night lighting in Devon is the reduction of carbon emissions. The current policy is on target to deliver a 4,000 tonne per year cut in carbon emissions compared with the 2007 datum. The introduction of part-night lighting and night dimming in Exeter, through the use of a remote monitoring system will enable the city to make its contribution towards the street lighting carbon reduction target for Devon.
9. Equality Considerations
Equality issues were considered when the Street Lighting Policy was approved. A remote monitoring system is just a means of implementing that policy. It has the advantage of flexibility, enabling lights to be reactivated in emergency situations.
There are no separate equality issues in relation to the procurement of a remote monitoring system, which is simply an alternative to the current approach that uses individual photocell controls at each lighting column.
10. Legal Considerations
The Street Lighting team would work with Devon Procurement Service to ensure that the procurement is legally compliant.
11. Risk Management Considerations
The main risk in procuring a remote monitoring system are around project management to ensure that the selected system is fit for purpose and is procured on time and within budget.
12. Options/Alternatives
The alternative to a remote monitoring system is to fit individual photocells to each lighting column. This is cost effective but does not have the benefit of flexibility. Also it does not enable further savings to be made in relation to night scouting and the monitoring and replacement of equipment.
13. Reason for Recommendation/Conclusions
This is an “invest to save” proposal. It will enable part night lighting and night dimming to be implemented and then adjusted if necessary. It will enable savings to be made in operational cost, energy costs and carbon emissions.
David Whitton Head of Capital Development and Waste Management
Electoral Divisions: All
Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation: Councillor Stuart Hughes Cabinet Member for Environmental and Community: Councillor Roger Croad
Strategic Director, Place: Heather Barnes
Local Government Act 1972: List of Background Papers
Contact for enquiries: David Whitton
Room No. Matford Offices, County Hall, Exeter. EX2 4QD
Tel No: (01392) 382701
Background Paper Date File Reference
Nil dw220312cba Street Lighting Remote Monitoring hk 07 020412
Appendix I To CDW/12/11
PART-NIGHT LIGHTING CONVERSION PROGRESS
The list below shows locations where work instructions have been issued for County Council-owned street lighting to be converted to part-night operation since January 2010. Further locations will be added when consultation with local parish and town councils, police and local County Councillors has been completed and work instructions have been issued.
LOCATION WORK STATUS LOCATION WORK STATUS Abbotsham Completed Inwardleigh Completed Abbotskerswell Completed Ivybridge In Progress All Saints Completed Kentisbeare Completed Alverdiscott Completed Kentisbury Completed Alwington Completed Kingsbridge Completed Ashprington Completed Lamerton Completed Ashwater Completed Lapford Completed Awliscombe Completed Lifton Completed Axminster Completed Lodiswell Completed Axmouth Completed Lustleigh Completed Aylesbeare Completed Malborough Completed Bampton Completed Manaton Completed Beer Completed Mary Tavy Completed Belstone Completed Meeth Completed Bere Alston Completed Milton Abbot Completed Berry Pomeroy Completed Milton Damerel Completed Bickleigh Completed Modbury Completed Bideford Completed Morchard Bishop Completed Bideford Completed Morebath Completed Bigbury Completed Mortehoe In Progress Bishopsteignton Completed Musbury Completed Black Torrington Completed Newton & Noss Completed Blackawton Completed Newton Abbot Completed Bow Completed Newton Poppleford Completed Bradford Completed Newton St Cyres Completed Bradninch Completed North Molton Completed Bradworthy Completed Northam Completed Brampford Speke Completed Northlew Completed Branscombe Completed Nymet Rowland Completed Bridford Completed Oakford Completed Bridgerule Completed Ottery St Mary Completed Brixton Completed Parkham Completed Broadclyst Completed Parracombe Completed Broadwoodwidger Completed Payhembury Completed Buckfastleigh Completed Plymtree Completed Buckland Brewer Completed Pyworthy Completed Buckland Monachorum Completed Rockbeare Completed Budleigh Salterton Completed Salcombe Completed Burlescombe Completed Sampford Peverell Completed Chardstock Completed Seaton Completed Charleton Completed Shaugh Prior Completed Chawleigh Completed Shebbear Completed Cheriton Bishop Completed Sheepwash Completed Christow Completed Shillingford St George Completed Chudleigh Completed Shobrooke Completed Chulmleigh Completed Shute Completed Churchstow Completed Sourton Completed Clawton Completed South Brent Completed Clyst Honiton Completed South Huish Completed Clyst Hydon Completed South Milton Completed Coldridge Completed South Molton Completed Colebrooke Completed Sowton Completed Colyton Completed Sparkwell Completed Copplestone Completed Spreyton Completed Cornwood Completed St Giles on the Heath Completed Crediton Completed Staverton Completed Crediton Hamlets Completed Sticklepath Completed Culmstock Completed Stokenham Completed Dalwood Completed Sutcombe Completed Dartington Completed Tavistock Completed Dartmouth Completed Tawstock Completed Dawlish Completed Tedburn St Mary Completed Diptford Completed Tetcott Completed Doddiscombleigh Completed Totnes Completed Down St Mary Completed Uffculme Completed Drewsteignton Completed Ugborough Completed Dunkeswell Completed Upottery Completed East Allington Completed Washfield Completed Eggesford Completed Wembury Completed Ermington Completed Wembworthy Completed Exmouth Completed West Alvington Completed Feniton Completed West Down Completed Fremington Completed Westleigh Completed Frogmore & Sherford Completed Whimple Completed George Nympton Completed Whitchurch Completed Georgeham Completed Widecombe in the Moor Completed Halberton Completed Widworthy Completed Halwill Completed Willand Completed Hartland Completed Winkleigh Completed Hatherleigh Completed Witheridge Completed Hemyock Completed Woodbury Completed Hennock Completed Woolfardisworthy Completed Highampton Completed Yarcombe Completed Hittisleigh Completed Yealmpton Completed Holcombe Rogus Completed Holsworthy Hamlets Completed Holsworthy Town Completed Honiton Completed Horrabridge Completed Horwood, Lovacott & NT Completed Ideford Completed Ilfracombe Completed Instow Completed
Appendix II To CDW/12/11
PART-NIGHT CONVERSION PROGRESS SINCE JANUARY 2010
80,000
60,000
40,000
20,000
0 TOTAL NO OF LIGHTS THAT TOTAL NO OF INSTRUCTIONS TOTAL NO CONVERTED TO- TOTAL NO OF LIGHTS COULD BE CONVERTED TO ISSUED DATE PART-NIGHT OPERATION Series1 76000 60000 29945 28618 LIGHTING CATEGORIES