A major upgrade of public lighting in the Moorabool shire has begun with Powercor changing almost 2,000 streetlights to more energy-efficient and cost-effective technology.
Street lighting is one of the Moorabool Shire’s largest energy uses and the three month upgrade of lights in Bacchus Marsh, Ballan and surrounding areas to LED lanterns is expected to save the council millions of dollars in maintenance and energy costs over the next decade.
Moorabool’s newer LED lanterns use 80 per cent less energy than the older-style mercury vapour lights, emit a better light and will save 14,149 tonnes of CO2 emissions over a 20 year period. That’s the equivalent of taking about 3,000 cars off the road for an entire year.
Powercor connects, maintains and manages 180,000 streetlights for the Victorian Department of Transport as well as local councils, including Moorabool Shire.
Powercor public lighting manager, Noel Twyman, said Powercor ensures lights across the network are operational and safe, replacing or repairing older lights as they fail with more efficient alternatives.
“In the case of Moorabool Shire, undertaking a bulk replacement is an efficient way of generating a greater benefit faster,” Mr Twyman said.
“We’ve been progressively replacing lights with more efficient alternatives for our customers.
“In 2019, 57 per cent of all public lights on our network were efficient alternatives, with more than 71 per cent of these in minor roads.”
Moorabool Shire Mayor, David Edwards, said the new lights were a prudent financial decision for the council.
“These LED lights not only will provide lower costs, lower energy consumption and lower greenhouse emissions,” Mr Edwards said.
“They also provide better lighting, including lower glare, better colour and visibility.”
“Currently, the street lights cost 437 per cent more in electricity compared to these new LED lights, which will save our region $134,000 annually on maintenance and energy costs.”
