The cost of street lights will rise
As the energy depletion is getting nearer, the cost of street lights will get more and more expensive. The cheap conventional street lights will not cheap any more and the solar street lights could bear the energy depletion.
Energy Australia has been given approval by the Australian Energy Regulator to increase the capital and maintenance charges paid by councils for street lights. The council could face a sharp increase in its street lighting bill after a recent decision by the independent regulator.
Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC) was unable to provide the Gazette with an estimate of its bill for 2010/11 under the new pricing. But NSW Opposition spokesman for inter-governmental relations Chris Hartcher has said the cost to councils will rise by an average 50 per cent.
BMCC expects to pay approximately $920,000 in 2009-10, representing 30 per cent of its electricity costs. Newcastle City Council will reportedly pay an extra $722,000 in 2010/11, in excess of its $2.4 million bill for 2009/10.
The spokeswoman said the council had achieved significant energy savings in recent times through various initiatives. These included replacement of old street lights with more energy efficient fluorescent models, reducing heating costs at pools and using solar panels on work caravans.
“The regulatory arrangements that have been established in this decision (and in the AER’s April 2009 decision) are aimed at developing more cost reflective prices for new assets,” the report stated, “improving transparency and allowing greater choice over the service provided.”
According to the report, the Australian Energy Regulator was seeking to encourage competition, which would allow street lighting costs to decline in the future. And I think the use of solar street lights will greatly lower the cost of street lighting.
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