The electrical energy (electricity) used in street lighting has been procured and is supplied by Scottish and Southern Energy from their environmentally friendly renewable generation capacity and is classified as 100% green.

Street lighting in Newcastle uses approximately 20 million kilowatt hours of energy per year.

This is equivalent to every person in Newcastle boiling their kettle approximately two times a day, every day of the year.

Electricity

Warning Electricity can Kill

Damaged or faulty electrical equipment can cause serious injury or death and should not be touched or interfered with.

Electricity is supplied to street lights at 230 vaults 50Hz. This is the same as the electricity in your home. Under no circumstances should you interfere with a street light as this could result in an electric shock causing serious injury or death.

Electricity is generally supplied to street lights via underground cables and internal wiring in lampposts.

Underground cables are either the responsibility of Newcastle City Council or the Regional Electricity Company CE Electric UK.

In some instances electricity is supplied via the electricity company's overhead network to street lighting lanterns attached to electricity poles.

We maintain close liaison with CE Electric UK as damage to their equipment or failure of supplies require them to restore the service. Loss of supply or damage to equipment will stop the street lights from operating during the hours of darkness.