Emmanuel Macron said it on July 14: in the face of soaring gas and electricity prices, France must prepare for energy sobriety. Local authorities will also have to get started, some have even already started. This is for example the case of the municipality of Beaugencywhich has a population of 7,400, and which is implementing new timetables this summer for public lighting.
Lights off at 11 p.m. in residential areas
Until now, all streets in all neighborhoods remained lit until 1 a.m. But, outside the city center, the town hall found that there was little or no traffic to justify such late lighting. From now on, the lights therefore go out at 11 p.m. in residential areas and midnight in the city centerand depending on the events.
Since 2019, Beaugency has been one of the “starred towns and villages” for the protection of the night sky. “We were already committed to a process aimed at combating light pollution and protecting biodiversity”noted Yves Froissard, elected to the environment at the town hall of Beaugency. But this year, another element came into play: the cost of electricity. “The sharp rise in energy prices, while we are renewing our electricity and gas markets this year, is leading us to move faster than expected.”recognizes the chosen one.
15 to 20% less electricity consumption
By reducing night lighting, Beaugency hopes to reduce its electricity consumption linked to public lighting by 15 to 20%. This will not prevent the overall bill from increasing this year by €200,000, due to rising prices – because unlike individuals, local authorities do not benefit from the tariff shield.
As for the possible impact on safety, Yves Froissard wants to be reassuring: “Security issues happen 80% during the dayhe recalls. And on the remaining 20%, we realize that people who commit misdeeds also need to be enlightened, so they will be easier to identify.“Finally, note that the county 2152which crosses Beaugency, stays lit all night for road safety reasons.