There are approximately 7,500 street lights in the City of Richmond. Approximately 50% of the lights are owned and maintained by PG&E and approximately 50% are owned and maintained by the City of Richmond.

To report a non-functioning street light, it is helpful if you obtain the pole number, usually a four or five digit number on the pole at its base, then phone the City of Richmond Department of Public Services at (510) 231-3010. If it is a PG&E light, it will be reported by the City to PG&E. If you have already determined that it is a PG&E owned light, you can report it directly to PG&E at http://www.pge.com/010_contact/streetlight_report.shtml.

According to the Department of Public Services, all Richmond owned lights are repaired within 72 hours, unless there are special problems. Typically, it can be weeks or even months before PG&E repairs its lights.

"Special problems" include such areas as the Richmond Parkway, where stealing copper wire from underground conduits has become a  local industry.

The City is moving forward with a program to eventually acquire all the PG&E owned lights and upgrade them to more energy-conserving equipment. This will take about one year to complete.