Pedro Rodrigues, the Regional Secretary for Equipment and Infrastructures, has announced a pilot project to modernise the public lighting network. The investment totals 2.1 million euros under the RRP and is expected to cut energy consumption on public roads by around 40%. A total of 8,750 high-efficiency LED luminaires have been assembled by the 11 municipalities of the region. Their operation and energy costs can be monitored through a remote management system located in the building of the Madeira Electricity Company, on Rua Pestana júnior. Pedro Rodrigues said the 11 municipalities are set up to join the new system at their own cost, but those expenses should be recovered through savings on the electricity bill of about four million per year. The municipalities will also be able to access the newly installed lighting points and choose where and when they are used. The system is described as a first for the region because it can quickly detect network failures, speeding up repairs and lowering maintenance costs for the public lighting network.
