The Bureau of Street Lighting has introduced a new interface to report streetlight outages in the city, giving the public easy access to a mapping system that specifically points out which light exactly needs work.
To report a light or a series of lights that are out, graffiti, damaged poles, or foliage blocking lights, note the address or intersection nearest the affected streetlight. Online, go to the Bureau of Street Lights online site and enter the address, which will take you to a map of the area. You then click on the map identifying the exact light with troubles, and submit your report. The system looks efficient – let’s hope the Bureau of Street Lighting can be as effective in fixing them quickly, particularly given the continued theft of copper wire across the city, putting full blocks in the dark.
Forbes Magazine reported in January that our city’s street light conversion to LED lighting, initiated by Mayor Villaraigosa in 2009, is saving Los Angeles some 63% of the city’s electricity bill over the older high-pressure sodium (HPS) lights. In the first phase of the project, over 80 % of regular streetlights have been swapped to LEDs. The second phase will convert the 70,000 decorative street lamps, like those found in the Windsor Square and Hancock Park areas, to LEDs. While some dislike the cooler blue light that glows from the new LEDs, it’s hard to argue the expected 50% savings in the city’s annual street lighting costs (formerly at about $16M annually) and the benefits of reduced use of energy overall.
Forbes Magazine: LA Saves Millions with LED Street Light Deployment
Larchmont Buzz: Copper Wire Thefts Continue, Windsor Square Hit Again
About Julie Grist
Julie co-founded the Larchmont Buzz with fellow buzzer Mary Hawley in 2011 and served as Editor, Publisher and writer for the hive for many years until the sale of the Buzz in August 2015. She is still circling the hive as an occasional writer.
Gives an error message (using firefox), actually I was just looking to see if I can report a street lights access plate is partially open, but doesn’t seem like the reporting feature works.
Try again. We’re told that the site uses Microsoft Silverlight to display, which will download automatically, but won’t show up till you try the link again.