May 2003 - Staffordshire residents now have a quick and easy way to report any problem with street lighting or illuminated traffic signs by clicking on ABB’s new dedicated website www.lightingforstaffordshire.net. The website was launched on May 19 to coincide with ABB’s official takeover of responsibility for the maintenance and upgrading of Staffordshire County Council’s entire road lighting stock for the next 25 years under a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) project valued in the region of £220 million.
To report a fault online the public simply has to visit the website and complete a form with as much detail as possible, including the nearest address to the faulty or damaged equipment and the nature of the problem. If known, the identification number written on the equipment is very useful and helps save time in fixing the problem. Non working lights should be fixed within five working days. However for emergencies (for example vandalised covers exposing live wires) where there is a risk to life or property, ABB is providing a two-hour response.
People without web access are still able to call the Council’s ‘Clarence’ call centre, which is open from 8.00 am to 6.00 pm, on 0800 23 23 23.
Richard Oulton of ABB Power Technologies said: As Staffordshire County Council’s PFI partner we are responsible for a stock of over 100,000 road lighting units and illuminatede traffic signs. We have been tasked with keeping more than 98 percent of them lit any one time, and the website will play a key role in this process by helping the public to provide us with immediate and accurate fault reports at any time of day or night.
ABB Background
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.