Outdoor Lighting Hickory Case Study

When the City of Hickory, N.C., began planning a picturesque 1.7-mile City Walk path that would be well lit and safe for pedestrians, they knew who to call. Duke Energy was brought into the project very early in the planning phase to address the city’s concerns, constraints and budget.

The Challenge

Infrastructure challenges, as well as relocation of lampposts and right-of-way considerations, needed to be addressed in order to deliver a customized decorative lighting plan of approximately 1,000 lights that met the city’s needs and budget.

The Solution

Working directly with the utility (rather than a third-party lighting vendor), the city was able to more easily get the project planned and approved with the Department of Transportation. The city prepaid the decorative adder fees, making their monthly charges equivalent to a basic wooden pole and standard fixture. Plus, ongoing maintenance and energy costs will be included on their monthly Duke Energy bill. If repairs are needed, the city reports the damage to Duke Energy using convenient online and call center channels for prompt restoration. Covered repair incidents include accident replacement, storm damage, lightning strike, hail damage and vandalism.

The Results

The City Walk and other trail systems have been great selling points for the City of Hickory to promote itself to new businesses and residents, currently boasting approximately 100,000 daytime residents. Over the last five years, there have been 1,675 new residential permits issued in Hickory, with 1,026 new housing units located within a half-mile of each trailway project.

The equipment and lighting upgrades have also helped to create a safe and welcoming environment for recreation while reducing maintenance time and costs for the city. Due to this positive experience, three more trails are now being added to this sprawling trail system, totaling 10 miles of paths once completed.