City Council
April 2024
Series Street Lighting Update
1 Street Light System Overview
2 City owns and maintains approximately 7,000 street lights SCE provides the power to the street light systems with the City owning and maintaining the poles, fixtures, conduit and wiring from the SCE power source and transformers Approximately 3,500 lights are on the low-voltage (parallel) system Converted to LED fixtures
Approximately 3,500 lights are on the high-voltage (series) system Cannot be converted to LED fixtures
System is antiquated and obsolete
Neighborhoods are going dark due to damage to circuitry or SCE transformers
System Location
3 High Voltage System Issues
4 Lighting circuits and fixtures can no longer be reliably, and cost effectively operated and maintained.
Transformer failures now take weeks to resolve resulting in neighborhoods being dark at night.
Damage to wiring (typically by contractors) is taking longer to repair.
SCE transformer manufacturers are no longer willing to produce and sell the Regulated Output (RO) transformers which the high voltage street light system relies on.
To make the switch to modern street light technology, not only do the SCE transformers need to be replaced (by SCE), but the City owned circuit wiring and light fixtures must also be replaced Increased duration for SCE to address issues
Conversion Options
5 Option 1 – Conventional Conversion (Series to Multiple Circuits) Option 2 – SCE Conversion
Option 3 – Solar Retrofit
NORESCO Energy Infrastructure Project – Richman Area Series to Multiple Conversion Design Project scope includes a traditional conversion design to replace the Richman Area circuit (Approximately 100 lights) Project includes 4 new meter pedestals, 112 pull boxes, 22,500 feet of conduit, 88 new LED luminaires, and all new wiring.
Project estimate = $1.5million
Annual cost savings = $3,300
Highest capital cost option
Longest return on investment
Only viable option in historic districts
Option 1 – Conventional Conversion
6 SCE Conversion Pilot Project – Lillie Area (Commonwealth-State College Area) Complete in 2023. All parties determined the pilot successful SCE Conversions includes…
Replacing City owned series circuit/lights with SCE owned poles/LED lights No capital cost to City
Remove all City poles and abandon existing circuit
LED lights on new concrete poles with overhead conductors Account transfers from LS-2 to LS-1
SCE secured additional funding in 2024 for conversion of up to 100 lights.
Option 2 – SCE Conversion
7 Option 3 – Solar Lights
8 Solar Lighting Pilot – Various Locations
“All-in-one” solar pilot has been determined insufficient for long-term light output Staff coordinating with LABSL on approved solar units and their pilot in Van Nuys Get “off the grid”
Maintains desired lighting output
Sustainable technology
Limited to areas with minimal tree canopy
Can retrofit existing poles
USDOE block grant is applicable funding
Cost Comparison
9 * Rate varies based on light wattage and level of service **Power supply (including battery) requires replacement every 10-12 years at $700/light.
Capital cost per light
Monthly cost per light
Option 1
Convectional
$15,000
$5-$8*
Option 2
SCE Conversion
$0
$11-$17*
Option 3
Solar Retrofit
$3,500
$5**
Short-term
10 Address the two most problematic circuits asap
1336 Evergreen
606_548 W. Orangethorpe
SCE has secured funding to convert one of these circuits in 2024 (Option 2).
City has sufficient funds to convert one circuit via solar retrofit in 2024 (Option 3) Staff has presented these options to the Infrastructure and Natural Resource Committee (INRAC) Staff will perform community outreach to obtain input. Thereafter, staff will take a recommendation to Council for consideration.
1336 Evergreen
11 102 lights
North of Rolling Hills
East of Brea Blvd
West of State College
606_548 W. Orangethorpe
12 92 lights
North of SR-91
East of Euclid
South of Orangethorpe
Long-term
13 Utilize two viable options moving forward to replace these series circuits.
SCE’s successful pilot of the Lillie Circuit conversion has paved the way for future conversions.
The advancement of solar technology and available funding for sustainable infrastructure has also give us a pathway for solar retrofit conversions.
The challenge will be to obtain funding for conventional conversions (Option 1) in our historic neighborhoods with pedestrian (acorn top) lights. These conversions don’t have a path forward and will require significant investment to address.
Questions