Energy
Downed Wires
Report downed power or phone lines to Consumers Energy.
Report Online
Service Areas
The ELC Department provides power to our city from the Coldbrook substation. We buy the power from Consumers Energy and use it to power these City assets:
- City street lights
- City traffic signals
- City buildings
- City parks & cemeteries
- Fire stations
- The fish ladder
- The Fulton Street Market
- The Impound Lot
- John Ball Zoo
- Various parking lots & ramps
- Receptacles for events
8 circuits distribute the electricity from the substation to the City. Cables run mostly in two areas:
- Underground (in conduits located in duct banks, which run from manhole to manhole)
- Aerial (on poles)
Most underground lines are in the downtown area. Those downtown cables extend out of the downtown area along major streets.
Lighting
STREETLIGHT ISSUES
Report issues with streetlights on your block or throughout Grand Rapids. You can report several issues through our mobile app.
- Streetlight Out
- Streetlight Blinking
- Streetlight Dim
- Streetlight Always On
Report Online
CONCRETE LIGHT POLE REPLACEMENT
We are currently replacing street lighting poles throughout the City. The City’s Energy, Lighting and Communications division announced that its contractor, Strain Electric, has replaced 650 of the 750 end-of-life concrete poles. The remaining 100 poles are scheduled to be replaced by the end of Summer 2021.
This project is part of the City’s asset management plan. The initial work has been completed. A map of those 18 locations is included below.
Phase 1.A Zone Map
The second part of Phase 1 is currently underway. A map of those locations is included below.
Phase 1.B Zone Map
Here is a visual example of a concrete pole in disrepair:
Example 1(PNG, 1MB)
Lighting Pole Ownership
Our street lighting system has 209 secondary circuits and 18,037 street lights.
We mount street light fixtures on poles owned by different entities:
- City owned poles
- Consumers Energy
- AT&T
The City-owned poles are made of different materials:
- Wood
- Fiberglass
- Cast iron
- Aluminum
Over the years, the City has rebuilt roads and associated infrastructure. This process includes rebuilding or replacing portions of the street lighting system. So, the age and condition of the street lighting system varies from new to over 50 years old. The condition also ranges from good to poor. We also maintain portions of the Cities of Kentwood's and Walker's street lighting systems.
Communications
We also own and operate a Pole Line and Duct System (PLDS). The PLDS provides service through a network of underground conduits and overhead poles. Communication companies use our conduits to provide service to the City.