Australian Capital Territory Achieves Resilient Street Lighting with Omexom and SELC, a Xylem Brand

Smart lighting control modules continue operation after golf ball-sized hailstorm

RALEIGH, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When a severe storm caused golf ball-sized hail to batter the city of Canberra, Australia, and surrounding townships, the impact was catastrophic and widespread. This time last year, the hailstorm caused more than $500 million (AUD) in property damage that included shattered car windows, holes in roofs and destruction of critical infrastructure.

The Australian Capital Territory’s smart lighting control modules on streetlights, however, continued to operate as if nothing had happened.

“When we went to replace several hundred streetlight fixtures damaged by the hail, we were amazed to find the brains of each streetlight, or the smart lighting modules, were still working,” said Michael Rosetta, business unit manager at Omexom Australia, the company in charge of the overall Energy Performance Contract for the Australian Capital Territory. “We couldn’t believe these devices continued to operate after taking such a pelting in the storm.”

The Australian Capital Territory first encountered the modules when they contracted Omexom, a VINCI Energies brand, to implement smart city infrastructure as part of Australia’s largest smart lighting project. Both organisations (Asset Owner and Principal respectively) needed a reliable lighting control solution to seamlessly integrate with the territory’s communication network. The search led them to modules made by Smart Efficient Lighting Control (SELC), a Xylem brand.

Omexom has deployed approximately 24,000 SELC lighting control modules, also called nodes, across the area.

“The nodes are extremely easy to work with despite being a highly complex electronic component with a lot of intelligence built-in,” said Rosetta. “They’re incredibly robust and have provided nearly 100 percent reliability, which is almost unheard of.”

SELC’s network lighting controls can be programmed to turn on whenever a storm rolls in, flash in the event of a public safety issue and dim or shutoff to conserve energy. When the smart lights are used with a communication network, crews can be alerted right away if service is interrupted for any reason.

“The data we receive from the nodes is invaluable for targeted, effective maintenance of the lights,” said Rosetta. “We can also use the dimming functionality to localize lighting based on environmental conditions.”

Throughout the process, Rosetta said he was impressed with SELC’s high level of service.

“SELC has been everything we could have wanted in a supply partner on this project,” said Rosetta. “They’ve been responsive, informative and have gone above and beyond whenever we’ve needed it. We want to work with people who deliver exactly what they say they’re going to deliver—that’s SELC.”

Learn more about SELC’s smart lighting solutions.

About SELC

Since its founding in 1982, Smart Efficient Lighting Control (SELC) has helped redefine the meaning of street lighting. From smart dimmable electronic ballasts and the first hardened long-life photocells to launching the world’s most accurate solar time switch, SELC has continually broken new ground in the provision of world-class street lighting control products.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to solving critical water and infrastructure challenges with innovation. Our more than 16,000 diverse employees delivered revenue of $4.88 billion in 2020. We are creating a more sustainable world by enabling our customers to optimize water and resource management, and helping communities in more than 150 countries become water-secure. Join us at www.xylem.com.