Transitioning to LED Fixtures and Ubicquia Smart Lighting Controllers

The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is committed to providing safe, reliable, cost-effective, and environmentally responsible utility services for the residents and businesses of Orangeburg, South Carolina. In alignment with this commitment, the DPU is undertaking a comprehensive Lighting modernization project to replace all existing High Intensity Discharge (HID) lights with energy efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) fixtures and to install advanced lighting controllers manufactured by Ubicquia, Inc.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this initiative is to modernize the City's outdoor lighting infrastructure to improve public safety, reduce operational costs, enhance service reliability, and support long-term sustainability goals.

The project is designed to achieve the following objectives:

Improve public safety and visibility through consistent, high-quality illumination of streets, sidewalks, and public spaces.

Reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning from HID technology to highly efficient LED lighting.

Lower long-term operating and maintenance costs through improved fixture longevity and system monitoring.

Enhance system management and accountability using smart lighting controls that provide real-time data and remote management capabilities.

LED Lighting Modernization

 As part of this project, the DPU will replace all existing HID lighting with LED fixtures. LED lighting technology provides superior energy efficiency, longer service life, improved lighting quality, and reduced environmental impact compared to legacy HID systems. This transition is expected to significantly decrease overall electricity usage associated with outdoor lighting and reduce the frequency of lamp replacements and maintenance activities.

Smart Lighting Controls and Technology

The DPU will install network-connected lighting controllers from Ubicquia on LED fixtures throughout the service area.

These controllers will enable the DPU to:

Monitor the operational status and performance of individual Lightings.

Detect outages and maintenance needs more quickly and accurately.

Optimize lighting operations to improve reliability and reduce downtime.

Support future smart city and utility modernization initiatives, as appropriate.

The use of smart lighting infrastructure will allow the DPU to manage public assets more efficiently while improving transparency and responsiveness to customer service requests.

 Fiscal Responsibility and Ratepayer Impact

The DPU is committed to implementing this project in a fiscally responsible manner. The transition to LED lighting and smart controls is expected to generate long-term cost savings through reduced energy use and maintenance expenses. These savings help stabilize utility operations and support the DPU's mission to deliver dependable services at the lowest reasonable cost for customers.

Environmental Stewardship

This project reflects the DPU's responsibility to be a prudent steward of natural resources. By reducing energy demand and extending equipment life, the LED and smart lighting initiative supports local and regional sustainability goals and reduces the environmental footprint of the City's utility operations.

Commitment to the Community

The DPU recognizes that outdoor lighting is a critical public service that affects safety, quality of life, and economic activity. The Department is committed to clear communication with residents, businesses, and community stakeholders throughout the implementation of this project and to minimizing service disruptions during installation.

For more information, contact the Department of Public Utilities.