Program Overview

The Town of Smithfield manages and maintains its public street lighting system to support roadway safety, visibility, and responsible use of public resources.

In recent years, the Town completed a comprehensive streetlight conversion program that modernized fixtures, reduced energy consumption, and improved long-term maintenance efficiency - while maintaining public safety as the primary consideration.

Streetlight Conversion Program

In 2021, the Town of Smithfield acquired ownership of its streetlight assets from National Grid, becoming a customer-owned utility. This transition allows the Town to directly operate, maintain, and manage street lighting infrastructure that was previously subject to utility-controlled pricing.

As part of this effort, the Town completed a community-wide streetlight conversion program, replacing High Pressure Sodium fixtures with high-efficiency LED streetlights. These upgrades improve lighting consistency, reduce energy use, and lower long-term operating and maintenance costs for taxpayers.

Part-Night Street Lighting

As part of the conversion program, a limited number of streetlight units (approximately 90 lights) have been programmed to operate on a part-night schedule where roadway safety is not compromised.

These locations are primarily mid-block areas where adjacent lighting provides adequate visibility. All part-night locations were reviewed to ensure no reduction in roadway safety or pedestrian visibility.

Operation Details

Part-night streetlights operate as follows:

• Lights energize at sunset.
• Lights temporarily turn off at approximately 1:00 AM
• Lights automatically re-energize at approximately 5:00 AM

All street lights return to normal daytime off operation at sunrise.

Reporting a Streetlight Issue

To report a streetlight outage, malfunction, or concern, please use the Town's streetlight reporting system operated by PRISM:

Report a Street Light Issue – Contact PRISM

Street lighting Guidelines

Street liighting in Smithfield is intended to provide roadway safety and security where conditions warrant safe illumination for all modes of transportation. Streetlights are installed and managed based on engineering judgement, safety considerations, and consistency with Town standards.

The Town applies the following principles when planning, installing, or modifying street lighting:

1. Light intersections, curves, road ends, crosswalks, public spaces & areas requiring enhanced visibility.
2. Limit lighting to areas where illumination is needed.
3. Maintain consistent spacing and placement.
4. Avoid excessive brightness or insufficient lighting levels.
5. Standardize fixtures to improve maintenance efficiency.
6. Minimize unnecessary lighting where practicable.
7. Control energy and infrastructure costs for taxpayers.

Request for Streetlight Changes

Requests for installation, relocation, or removal of streetlights are reviewed by the Town's Traffic Safety Commission.

Residents or businesses seeking changes to street lighting may submit a written request using the link below:

Smithfield Traffic Safety Commission – Street Light Request 

About the Street Light Conversion Program – General Highlights & Information

Following the completion of the Street Light PILOT test period in November, 2020, the Town of Smithfield chose to use Cree Traveyo series overhead streetlights, American Electric Lighting subdivision post top replacement units & Howard Large Area Flood Lights for specialized applications.  All light assets were installed with 3,000 Kelvin color temperature (CCT), low wattage fixtures that provide for cut-off or full cut-off light distribution to safely & uniformly light to levels suitable for travel.  With the exception of State controlled highways, all local street light assets dim during late overnight hours & some units turn off part night (1 AM to 5 AM).  The combination of low wattage fixtures & smart-control capabilities further enables the Town to obtain more favorable tariff rate charges complimenting energy savings further, reducing burden on tax payers & reducing both greenhouse gases & artificial light pollution.         

During the conversion program Smithfield successfully converted approximately 1,450 overhead lights, 225 post top lights & 20 flood lights throughout the community.  As a result of light reduction, 425 lights were removed from service due to location redundancy, improper spacing & overall lack of need.  These programmatic adjustments as a result of inventory audit, conversion & reduction provide for savings that can energize 100 homes for a year and are estimated to save the community $250,000 annually on electricity & maintenance costs. 

These energy & cost savings are aimed at moving Smithfield towards becoming a more sustainable community that recognizes the need to reduce climate changing carbon emissions, reduce energy consumption & keep artificial light pollution minimized all while optimizing the rate of return on this significant community investment.

For more program information, please contact the Town Engineer’s Office at 401-233-1041.

For additional information, please see the following resources on street lighting in the links below:

US Dept. of Energy - Street Lighting Consortium

US Dept. of Energy – Use of Street Lighting

American Medical Association – Lighting Guidance Release

Illumination Engineers Society – Streetlight Conversion

National Grid – Streetlight Portal

PBS Service Announcement

National Geographic Light Education 101

Discovery Channel Education Video on Artificial Light at Night

National Park Service Light Announcement

Why you should care about Good Light at Night

Dark Sky International