Cobb EMC Installs Smart Street Lighting Solution

Out with the old and in with the new. The move to change out old, high-pressure sodium lights for new LEDs prompted Cobb Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) to think smart.

Always looking for the latest technology to improve customer service in Northwest metro Atlanta, the electric provider made the business case that it was also the time to add smart lighting with Sensus VantagePoint® Lighting Control.

“We are already rolling the truck and crew to change out the lights, so now is the time to join smart cities and extend our capabilities to include Internet of Things (IoT) technology,” said Cobb EMC’s Director of System Quality and Planning, Bhaji Dhillon.

Sensus VantagePoint Lighting Control is an intelligent solution that consists of a lighting control module, lighting control software and the FlexNet® communication network. This technology enables smart public service providers to remotely monitor and control street and area lights.

“When I saw this module, the first thought that crossed my mind was that this device is as close as it can be to the Internet of Things,” said Dhillon. “It brings us information about the location of the fixture, the quality of light and system power outages.”

Cobb EMC, located in Northwest metro Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest electric cooperatives, serving nearly 200,000 consumers. The Georgia not-for-profit safely delivers reliable electricity to residential and commercial members in Cobb, Bartow, Cherokee, Fulton and Paulding counties.

So far, crews have installed more than 1,100 smart lighting modules for commercial members, including the lights leading to the stadium for Friday night football at Walton High School, home of the Raiders, who went undefeated in the regular season.

• [Efficiency Improvement - Maintenance]
  The electric cooperative plans to install 11,400 lights each year for five years. When it’s all said and done, approximately 60,000 lights will shine and provide smart sensors that can be programmed to turn on whenever a storm rolls in or flash in the event of a public safety issue. If a light is out of service, Cobb personnel will be alerted right away and know exactly where to send a repair crew.