Public lighting
We’re improving the safety and security of local communities through the supply, installation and maintenance of more than 240,000 pedestrian and street lights across the state. We are actively working to upgrade existing public lighting with energy-efficient LEDs.
SA Power Networks provides a range of convenient services for local councils, developers and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). Councils and the State Government are the authorising body for approving any changes and/or additional lighting.
We’re currently trialling smart lighting solutions and enabling a platform to encourage smart cities, and improve outage management response times, performance diagnostics and additional features such as environmental monitoring.
Street light connection service
DIT, Councils and Developers can apply for new street lighting to be connected to our network and will need to provide the following information to complete the application:
- Valid contractor's license number
- The address of the lighting connection
- The invoice billing address
- The customer's and electrician's contact details (e.g. mobile and email address)
- Maximum demand of the installation
- The type of lighting connection you need
If you do not have all of this information or are unsure on how to obtain this information, we strongly recommend that you get in contact with your Electrical Contractor.
Faulty street light
We manage street lights for local councils and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport (DIT). This includes the repair of faulty street lights.
A street light might go out due to a fault with the globe, photo electric (PE) cell or wiring to the pole or column. We’ll aim to fix it within five business days if it’s within in the following areas:
- Adelaide CBD
- Adelaide Metro area
- Gawler
- Mount Barker
- Mount Gambier
- Murray Bridge
- Port Augusta
- Port Lincoln
- Port Pirie
- Stirling
- Whyalla
- Willunga
Anyone can report a faulty street light by clicking on the link below. We’ll endeavour to repair faulty lights in the Adelaide metropolitan and CBD areas, as well as those located near our regional depots, within five business days. Street lights outside of these locations we will aim to repair within 10 business days. If we don't meet these time frames, you may be eligible to receive a GSL payment.
Please note that cut off times apply for faulty street light reporting. Read more in the SA Power Networks' repair of faulty street light Guaranteed Service Level (GSL) payment fact sheet.
Spotted a faulty streetlight?
Community & Customer Engagement
A Public Lighting Working Group (PLWG) was established in 2018 which represents Councils, DIT, Local Government Association (LGA) and SA Power Networks on public lighting matters.
The key functions of the PLWG are to provide a forum to foster stronger relationships, understandings and developing strategies ensuring the ongoing needs of all customers on public lighting matters are captured to deliver a valued service.
Further information on the Public Lighting Working Group can be found at Talking Power – Public Lighting
Street lighting is important for public safety and security. It improves safety for pedestrians, riders and motorists by illuminating roads and footpaths, intersections, bends and traffic crossings
Councils and the State Government pay for streetlight maintenance and energy and are the authorising body for approving any changes or additional lighting. SA Power Networks manages most street lighting in South Australia on their behalf.
SA Power Networks provides lighting services such as: Faulty streetlight repairs, lighting audits and whole of life analysis, Smart lighting solutions, construction and maintenance, procurement and inventory management.
All new streetlights will use energy efficient LEDs which can significantly reduce energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions
Faults can be reported online.
GSL stands for Guaranteed Service Level. If you’re the first person to report a faulty street light, and the light is not repaired within 5 or 10 business days, then you may be eligible to receive a $25 (including GST) payment.
Please note that cut off times apply for faulty street light reporting. Further information can be found here.
Only lights that we have a maintenance contract and not working are eligible for a GSL payment. Lights will not be eligible if they are: on 24 hours a day, damaged or vandalised, is flickering, is working when our crew attends or can not be found with the instructions provided.
Customers may report as many faults as they wish, however only the first 40 street light faults reported by a single customer on any one day may be eligible for a GSL payment. Subsequent fault reports will not be eligible and will not be carried over to the following day.
While streetlights are necessary, they can be costly to run and account for approximately 30-60 per cent of Local Government's greenhouse gas emissions. The upgrade to energy efficient LED streetlights will significantly reduce your Council's energy consumption and maintenance costs, providing overall improvements to the street lighting network.
Yes, any request for additional lights will need to be directed to your local Council.
The LED replacement program is taking place predominantly on low volume traffic roadways and other outdoor public spaces dominated by pedestrians, or on request from Councils. Those also nearing end of life, fail or break will be replaced.
LED lighting is much more efficient than traditional lighting, and requires less maintenance.
In the case where a light is spilling into your property or windows, please contact your local Council for an assessment on whether the installation of a shield may be suitable. If an option can be provided to shield the light, your Council may negotiate the cost of retrofitting a shield with you.
Helpful documents
More information about our street lighting service can be found within the following documents: