Public lighting specialists from distribution networks across Australia came together in Sydney last week for Energy Networks Australia’s inaugural Public Lighting Forum.

The two-day forum, held on 8 and 9 October, was the first time ENA has brought the country’s public lighting experts into one room to share what is working, what isn’t, and where the sector is heading.

Delegates included public lighting managers, asset managers and engineers from networks in every mainland state and Tasmania, alongside speakers from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER), the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) and Lighting Council Australia.

Streetlights are among the most visible parts of the electricity network. Across much of Australia, distribution networks own, install and maintain them on behalf of councils and road authorities, keeping roads, footpaths and public spaces safe after dark.

The sector is changing fast. Old lamps are being replaced with energy-efficient LEDs, and new “smart” lights can dim, report faults and collect data. That raises practical questions for networks: how lighting is metered and priced, which products deliver the best long-term value, and how new technology can be rolled out at scale.

ENA Chief Operating Officer Dominic Adams opened the forum, before a program that moved from policy settings to performance in the field:

• Laszlo Milias, United Energy, set out the Victorian regulatory context and the issues and opportunities it creates for streetlighting.
• David Ripper, Principal Metrology Engineer, AEMO, covered market and system developments affecting public lighting, including how unmetered lighting loads are measured.
• Jiri Heider, Ausgrid, presented Public Lighting 2.0: From Assets to Data Platforms, showing how sensors, connectivity and data analytics can turn streetlights into the backbone of smarter cities and new community services.
• David Crossley, National Technical Manager, Lighting Council Australia, shared best practice for selecting roadway luminaires, including how to identify compliant, high-quality products at tender.
• Claire Preston, Director, Network Pricing, AER, explained how public lighting costs are recovered and priced, how approaches differ between jurisdictions, and how they may evolve.
• Adele Finch and Andrew Close, Essential Energy, shared field insights on asset performance, failure rates, common defects and emerging reliability challenges.

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The day closed with a panel on future revenue and commercial opportunities, featuring Bruce Scoble (Endeavour Energy), Jason Farrell (Energy Queensland) and Noel Twyman (Powercor), facilitated by Jiri Heider and Adele Finch.

The second day handed the agenda to delegates. After a facilitated discussion of day one’s hot topics, participants voted on the three issues they most wanted to tackle, then rotated through workshops to work through each one and agree practical next steps.

Five public lighting technology providers showcased their latest products across both days: CU Phosco Australia, Felicity Smart Infrastructure, Ibex Lighting, Leadsun Australia and Signify. Their support helped make the forum possible.

Outcomes from the day two workshops will inform ENA’s ongoing work with members on public lighting.

For more information, contact events@energynetworks.com.au.