Street lights

Power failures

For power failures and emergencies, please contact Ausgrid on 13 13 88. Emergency information is available on the Ausgrid website.

Street lighting - Lights out

Ausgrid has a new way for its customers to report streetlight faults online. You are now able to report faulty streetlights, check if a streetlight has been reported, and see if repairs are likely to take some time.

These changes were implemented to provide customers with a more efficient and user friendly way of reporting streetlight faults. The map provides an exact location for Ausgrid to make repairs, which is important because repairs are carried out in the day when all the lights are out.

Customers can enter an address or search by the pole number to find the Ausgrid streetlight on the map. This map indicates if a streetlight is working (no fault recorded), has been reported, has ongoing repairs, or is privately owned and not Ausgrid’s responsibility.

Ausgrid endeavours to keep street lighting data up to date, however, if you find any discrepancies we encourage you to advise Ausgrid via the new online reporting system.

Visit Ausgrid's website to report a streetlight fault or call 1800 044 808.

Please note that Council officers do not have any influence on Ausgrid's work schedules or priority of works. Council Officers also log streetlight faults via the Ausgrid website or hotline.

Street lighting - Request for the relocation or modification of street lights

Ausgrid are responsible for supplying, installing and maintaining street lighting, including the poles and lamps. Council pays Ausgrid for this service.

There is an Australian Standard for street lighting. Street lighting is required to help ensure safety for motorists and pedestrians in the public roadway. Ausgrid have a maintenance program in place to progressively replace old street lighting technology with new street lighting technology, to better meet the Australian Standard. Ausgrid do not consult with Council when they install new street lighting technology in a particular street, i.e. location of poles and type of lights.

Following the maintenance/upgrade works undertaken by Ausgrid, residents may sometimes request the relocation or modification of the newly installed street lighting technology (eg. when the street lights are shining in their windows). Ausgrid will not make modifications to the street lighting at the request of residents. Ausgrid requires Council to specifically request the changes to the street lighting. Ausgrid then charges Council for these modifications. Such modifications may include:

• Replacing the existing standard streetlight with a LED lighting.
• Dropping the height of the mast arm such that the street light is closer to the ground.

Woollahra Council has a fixed street lighting budget each year. Unfortunately, over the last few years the average increase in street lighting charges levied by Ausgrid onto councils has been significantly higher than CPI.

Long term, Woollahra Council is working with the Southern Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils on the Street Lighting Improvement Program. This Program aims to ensure that the Australian Energy Regulator makes decisions based on fair value of the existing street lighting assets and correct network distribution pricing that is more consistent with cost recovery.

The above information demonstrates that Council is under pressure to meet the replacement costs associated with the existing street lighting infrastructure. Council does not have the budget to expand or improve its street lighting assets, such as through the installation of Aeroscreen lanterns or changing the height of street lights. Council appreciates that residents are generally only concerned about a single street light. However, Council must give consideration to the costs associated with the thousands of street lights within the area.

Council is therefore not in a position to fund modifications to the street lighting. If residents wish to pursue modifications to the street lighting, then they may consider funding the modifications themselves. The cost for new Aeroscreen lanterns could be anywhere between $800-1,200. Offers to fund modifications to the street lights should be made in writing via email to records@woollahra.nsw.gov.au or by letter to the General Manager, PO Box 61, Double Bay, NSW 1360. On receiving the request, Council undertakes an initial assessment and then requests a quote from Ausgrid to undertake the works. Council will only pursue the works once payment has been received.

Traffic lights

The Transport for NSW are responsible for traffic signals. To report signal faults, please immediately contact the RMS on 131 700 (24 hrs).