Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell

Joint Press Release issued (8/05/2010):

Pilot Project to test LED effectiveness on arterials

Seattle – Councilmember Bruce Harrell today announced the next steps of Seattle’s transition to Light Emitting Diode (LED) streetlights with installations completed on arterials in Belltown and the Central District. LED streetlights last three times longer than the currently used high pressure sodium lights and use approximately 40 percent less energy. These are the first arterials in the city to be tested for LEDs and will provide the information necessary to move forward with future arterial installation.

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More great news regarding our city’s streetlights! As you know, City Light has made great strides in improving the streetlight functionality in our city. Repairs are on a ten-day-turn-around (unless it requires more than a bulb change) and we have begun our transition to the brighter, more efficient LED streetlights. Now, there is an online system that enables customers to track streetlight repairs for reported outages. This is particularly useful in the summertime when streetlights do not come on until nearly 10:00. Many people are in for the night by that time and would have no way of knowing whether the streetlight had been repaired. With the new online tracking system that information is easily accessible. As I have noted before, properly functioning streetlights are a core service provided by the city that are essential to enhancement of public safety. This repair tracking system is another tool to advance our streetlight efforts.

Back in 2004 more than 23,000 streetlight outages were reported and sometimes it took months for a light to be repaired. Because of my concern for safe neighborhoods, I changed polices and demanded implementation that has reduced the backlog to nearly 1,000 outages with nearly 90 percent being repaired within 14 days or less. This is great progress!

Please go to http://www.seattle.gov/light/streetlight/tracker.asp to see the map, report streetlight outages and to track their repair.

On July 8th, I participated in an event to help promote the expansion of City Light’s Powerful Neighborhoods Pilot Program. Powerful Neighborhoods is aimed at reaching elderly and low income customers and providing them with conservation solutions like efficient light bulbs, showerheads, low flow aerators and smoke detectors. The intent is to make sure that all of our residents are included in conservation and cost saving strategies. For more on the promotional event and the Powerful Neighborhoods Program please see the press release below.

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As you know, streetlight maintenance and a transition to LED streetlights has been one of my priorities over the past two years. You also know that great progress has been made on both fronts.

On July 7th, I participated in a celebration of the launch of our city’s LED streetlight project, with the first unit installed in front of the Ballard branch of the Seattle Public Library. This year 5,000 LED streetlights will be installed and 10,000 more in 2011. More information about the event and LED deployment can be found in the press release below.

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Our hard work is paying off! JD Power and Associates recently announced customer satisfaction with Seattle City Light increased in the first quarter of 2010, compared to the same period a year ago. Among all mid-sized western utilities, City Light ranks third. City Light received an overall score of 662 in one of the most competitive regions in the country.

City Light’s customer satisfaction has risen since 2008 when they received a score of 641. In 2009, the Utility scored 646 points for customer satisfaction of power quality and reliability, price, billing and payment, corporate citizenship, communications and customer service.

This year’s score of 662 is a great improvement and shows the team at City Light is working hard for you. I commend all of the great workers at the Utility for their commitment to serve the citizens of Seattle at a high level and we will continue to propose policies that will improve customer service.

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Press Release issued on Thursday, 6/17/2010:

Next stage of pilot project introduces LEDs to arterials to improve visibility and public safety

Seattle – Councilmember Bruce Harrell today announced the expansion of the current LED streetlight pilot project to include LEDs on arterials in a four block area of Belltown and a five block area of the Central District. Installation is scheduled for August.

In Belltown, LEDs will be installed on 2nd Avenue between Wall and Lenora streets and in the Central District, on Cherry Street between 23rd Avenue E and Martin Luther King Jr. Way S. Both areas have had their share of nighttime troubles.

“These are the first arterials in our city to be tested for LEDs,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Energy, Technology and Civil Rights Committee. “Effective streetlighting is essential to fostering safe neighborhoods and a safe nightlife environment.”

Below are pictures of the LEDs installed on Capitol Hill. Led Streetlights (top) & Old High-pressure Sodium Streetlights (bottom)

Improvement of the streetlight system has been a priority for Councilmember Harrell because of its impact on customer service, public safety and neighborhoods. In 2004, more than 23,000 streetlight outages were reported and sometimes it took months for a light to be repaired. Now the backlog has been reduced to roughly 1,000 outages with nearly 90 percent being repaired within 14 days or less. Currently, City Light is in the third phase of a four phase effort to re-lamp all 84,000 streetlights in the city. The improved service and LED transformation is unprecedented in Seattle.

In June of 2009, it was announced that the city will use $1 million in stimulus money to begin initial funding of LEDs. Later this year City Light will begin using LED streetlights in its overall replacement program, installing 5,000 LEDs in 2010 and 40,000 over the next five years. LED pilot projects in Capitol Hill, West Seattle and South Park have already received an 85 percent approval from residents. City Light reviewed more than 100 models of LED fixtures and tested nine to find the lighting most favorable to residents.

LED streetlights last up to 12 years, while the high pressure sodium streetlights currently used, last only four years. This will result in less frequent outages and consistently lit streets. The light temperature produced by LEDs does not distort colors and appears brighter to the eye. Given this fact, the intensity of the LEDs can be reduced and less power can be used.

“In terms of customer service, LED streetlights give us a consistent, energy efficient solution that will save the city money,” said Councilmember Harrell. “These two areas will provide the needed testing for arterials and address public safety concerns at the same time.”