Dublin City Council is to introduce energy-saving measures for the capital's 47,000 street lights after the failure of a second attempt to find an alternative power supplier to the ESB.
Among the measures being considered is the dimming of public lights in some areas, as well as the introduction of new lamp technologies to cut the city's €2.76 million annual lighting bill.
Lights in residential areas are unlikely to be turned down for public safety reasons, according to Paddy Craven, senior engineer in the council's lighting department. However, lights on some motorways could be dimmed after midnight as part of the cost-saving measures.
ESB charges for public lighting rose 20 per cent earlier this year, adding almost €500,000 to the council's annual bill.
In 2005, in a key test of the deregulation of the energy market, the council sought tenders from private generators to power the city's lights. However, none was received.
Late last year, it tried again, and sought tenders for the summer months only. This means suppliers would not have to provide power during the evening peak when they face many other demands from electricity users. But again no tenders were received.
"I suspect there just isn't enough generating capacity in the private sector," said Mr Craven, who added there was "no point" in tendering again.
Fine Gael councillor Naoise Ó Muirí said the absence of any bidders for a public contract worth nearly €3 million "made a mockery of the supposedly liberalised electricity market" and the Commission for Energy Regulation had questions to answer.
The council now intends to introduce new "cosmo" lamps requiring 10 per cent less energy, starting with a pilot in the streets around Croke Park.
