AC Electric’s New
Streetlight Reporting System
By Albert B. Kelly
If you’re like me or if
you are of a certain generation, you approach today’s
digital-online-interconnected-social media-website filled landscape with
respect and perhaps a healthy dose of skepticism. I say that of course even as
I scroll through e-mail messages on a handheld device that puts more computing
power in my hand than NASA had in an entire complex when they landed men on the
moon.
But every now and then,
something comes along that’s extremely important and timely. In this case, I’m
talking about Atlantic Electric’s new streetlight reporting system that is
available through their website. Any citizen or resident can report a street
light that is out by going to Atlantic Electric via this direct link http://www.atlanticcityelectric.com/pages/connectwithus/outages/StreetLightOutage.aspx
Anyone reporting a
darkened street light will need to provide the utility pole number or an
address and there’s also a place for your name and contact information.
Atlantic Electric provides a space for comments if you wish to give more detail
and they will provide a status update on any lights you report.
If you contact Atlantic
Electric through their main website (as opposed to the link above); click “my
home”, then click “report an outage or safety hazard” and then click “report
streetlight outage”. Put in the required information and they will take it from
there.
Off the top, I stressed
the word “important” regarding this new feature by Atlantic Electric because as
a mayor, working with law enforcement and other officials on public safety;
we’re very well aware of the critical role lighting plays in that effort.
At first glance, there is
the issue of traffic. Street lighting exists first and foremost to help
motorists and pedestrians navigate streets and sidewalks safely. While I’m
guessing that the numbers will vary from place to place with a wide range of
factors to be considered (i.e. traffic patterns, road conditions, speed limit),
I’m fairly certain that the evidence will show that street lights reduce
accidents and fatalities.
If we can prevent even one
traffic-related death or a serious accident where people are injured by simply
reporting a street light that’s out; then I think it is well worth the trouble
it takes to do so. It may be a simple thing; but it is something residents can
do for the good of the community from the safety of their own homes.
But there’s more. Bad guys
and criminals of any sort don’t want to be seen. Whether we’re talking about
guys on a street corner selling drugs or guys looking to “smash and grab” from
a parked car or someone looking for an easy mark; they all want to remain
hidden and undetected. The best way to do that is to hide in the shadows and
find some cover in the dark.
One easy way that
residents can make their neighborhoods safer and discourage open-air criminal
behavior is to report street lights that are out. Understand that in some
instances, the bad guys might shoot them out or otherwise try and disable them,
so we might have to be persistent and call as often as necessary to keep an
area well-lighted.
As I said, it may sound
like a small thing and relatively unimportant; but it is important. A working
street light is a basic issue so on one level it is a quality of life thing,
but on another level it is a small piece of a larger puzzle that involves safety
and crime prevention.
That’s why I encourage
residents in their respective neighborhoods to take notice of the streetlights
as evening sets in and when you see one that is out, go to Atlantic Electric’s
website and report the outage or if you’re not comfortable the whole on-line
website thing, call their line at 1-800-642-3780.
Atlantic Electric
continues to be a partner with the communities they serve and they have this
terrific new streetlight reporting system through their website, so let’s take
advantage of it. Then too, I would not be surprised if they don’t come out with
a new “streetlight reporting app” for your mobile phone in the
not-too-distant-future…the digital age just keeps on moving.