At IID, one of our main objectives is safety—for our employees and our customers. We realize that properly functioning streetlights provide an added level of safety and security for our neighborhoods and families. It’s important to note that streetlight maintenance is a shared responsibility of city, county, and state agencies, but most importantly to IID.

To report a damaged or inoperable streetlight, or a streetlight that stays on during the day, IID asks that you first contact the city in which the light is located. You can also alert IID by clicking on the following link to report a light online or call IID’s customer service section at 1-800-303-7756.

You will be asked to provide the streetlight’s location, and if there are any identifying markings on the pole.

One of our representatives will either schedule a service call, or contact the appropriate service agency responsible for that particular streetlight.

Frequently Asked Questions About Streetlight Outages

Q. What causes streetlights to stop working?
A. A variety of reasons could be at fault when a streetlight is not working properly. An outage may be due to a bulb that has failed or something more complicated, such as power lines that are damaged in the vicinity of the streetlight.

Q. How do I know if someone has come to check on a streetlight that is not functioning properly?
A. If we were successful in repairing the light, it should be operating shortly after we receive the outage notification. Most repairs are made within four-six working days.

Q. When can I expect the streetlight to be repaired?
A. The cause of a streetlight outage impacts the length of time necessary to resolve the problem. Most streetlight outages can be repaired within a few days. However, damage to underground facilities may require additional time to repair a streetlight. Providing accurate and specific information when you report a streetlight outage will help expedite the process.

Q. Does IID own streetlights?
A. In most areas, streetlights are owned by the cities they are in. In some cases, cities, homeowners associations, planned developments, etc. choose to install these lights and have IID replace bulbs and photocells that are not working properly. 

Q. How do I know if a light is actually a streetlight?
A. If the light is facing the street, it is more than likely a streetlight. If the light is located in a back yard, alleyway or parking lot, it is probably a security light or private lighting.

Q. Why do I have to report the outage?
A.IID works with local law enforcement agencies to help locate streetlight issues; however, your assistance aides in identifying streetlight outages of which we may not be aware.

Q. How do I know if the streetlight is out or simply not on? Is there a certain time of day that streetlights begin to operate?
A. New streetlights are often the first facilities installed in a new development but are not always energized. For safety reasons the facilities may not become energized until a later date. Most existing streetlights are operated by a device that senses available sunlight, called a photocell. Sensitivity among photocell devices may differ slightly, causing one light to come on before another. Shadows from structures or trees can also effect the operation of the light. If a streetlight isn’t operating after dark, when all other lights in the area are on, the streetlight may be in need of repair.