PFI Partnership
Tay Valley Lighting (Hampshire) is responsible for the street lighting service until 2035
- What is a PFI
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A Private Finance Initiative (PFI) is a partnership between the public and private sectors. Whilst ownership is retained by the Local Authority the assets are operated, under licence, by a private sector partner.
Without a PFI there would not be enough funding to carry out such a large scale replacement and improvement programme. It allows us to invest in the latest technology to save energy and cut carbon emissions.
- Street lighting replacement programme
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The street lighting replacement and upgrading programme was completed between 2010 to 2015.
Not all areas will had lights replaced. Unlit locations were not affected and areas that have recently installed or upgraded lighting only had their lantern heads changed. Around 13,000 of Hampshire’s street lights are operated by district, town and parish councils and most are also included in the PFI.
The new lighting is more energy efficient, providing improved visibility and reducing light pollution at night.
More street lighting facts and figures
- 150,000
- street lights, signs and bollards replaced or upgraded
- Remote monitoring
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A remote monitoring system, used to switch and dim the lights, was also introduced. This allows the lights to be dimmed remotely enabling light levels to be changed almost instantly.
The scheme aims to save energy and reduce crime, using more energy efficient lamps, reduced burning hours and dimming lights to reduce carbon emissions.
Some of the benefits of the project include:
- investment in the latest technology
- more efficient use of energy
- improved visibility and reduced light pollution at night
- safer streets and reduced crime
- dimming lights to reduce carbon emissions.
- Service standards
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A computerised monitoring system automatically checks each light every night and reports any faults directly to our PFI Contractor, Enerveo Ltd.
For manual units night inspections are completed approximately every 14 days in the winter and every 28 days in summer.
Hampshire County Council aims to deal with faults promptly and within the following response times:
- normal faults: attend site within three business days and repair or report more extensive repair or supply cable fault. In these cases repairs may take an additional 10 to 35 days to correct
- where there is an electricity supply fault, which is the responsibility of Enerveo, the repair of these faults may take an additional 10 to 35 days to correct
The County Council also complete the following operations to keep all street lights and illuminated signs fully operational and electrically safe:
- planned maintenance cleaning and visual checks
- every 24 months we carry out a visual, electrical, structural and mechanical inspection to make sure that the lights are in safe working order as well as cleaning the lantern
- illuminated traffic bollards are cleaned three times each year during the winter months
- lamps are generally replaced on block, every two or four years, depending on the type of lamp
- Technical information
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For technical information see our Technical guidance notes.