Newcastle City Council and North Tyneside Council signed a £250 million Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contract with energy giant Scottish and Southern Energy in March 2004.

The contract is to replace and maintain street lights in the two authorities for the next 25 years.

The contract commenced in July 2004. The massive scheme will see 80% of the lights in Newcastle replaced over the next 5 years as part of the investment programme.

The division of Scottish and Southern Energy that carries out the lighting work in Newcastle and North Tyneside is called Southern Electric Contracting (SEC).