The SAI of the Republic of Srpska has conducted a performance audit named “Public lighting management in the Republic of Srpska”. The main purpose of this audit is to answer the question:” Whether the existing measures and activities of local governments and other competent institutions in the management of public lighting contribute to improving the functionality of public lighting and reducing the cost of public lighting.
The findings of the audit show that the management of public lighting has not sufficiently established an effective system that would enable the increase of functionality and reduction of public lighting costs.
Local governments have not created the necessary preconditions for efficient management of public lighting, which would be in the function of reducing the cost of public lighting and increasing its functionality. A small number of local governments monitor and conduct analyzes of electricity consumption and costs and the characteristics and functionality of public lighting, in order to take certain measures and activities in terms of reducing electricity consumption and costs.
The observed period is characterized by an increase in electricity consumption and costs, as well as an increase in total expenditures for public lighting with the simultaneous expansion of the public lighting network. A larger number of local governments are characterized by an increase in electricity costs. However, a number of local governments are characterized by a reduction in electricity consumption and costs, which is primarily the result of measures taken during the construction, reconstruction and investment maintenance of public lighting, changes in the structure of lighting fixtures and/or changes in the remote management system for public lighting.
The local governments have not established organized monitoring of the correct functioning of public lighting and taking measures to eliminate the identified deficiencies in order to increase its functionality. The public lighting functioning is also related to public procurement procedures, contracting, and supervision of public lighting maintenance, which affects the timeliness and quality of work, and thus the quality of public lighting. The lack of necessary analyzes and real professional field supervision is an obstacle to the economical and functional management of public lighting.
Implemented measures and activities in some local governments show that an organized and planned approach to the construction, reconstruction, and public lighting maintenance can achieve a more successful functioning of public lighting. Local governments that have conducted activities on the modernization of the entire public lighting network or a large part of it, have achieved significant savings in electricity consumption and practically have no more maintenance costs or reduced them. to a minimum.
Communication and coordination of activities between local governments and republic institutions are not, completely, at the level that is in the function of successful public lighting management. The existing legal framework related to energy efficiency, and especially energy efficiency financing, does not fully enable local governments to implement special ways of financing and realizations of projects for construction, reconstruction and investment maintenance of public lighting according to the principle of public-private partnership.
The SAI of the Republic of Srpska in the performance audit report offers recommendations for changes that need to be made in public lighting management to ensure increased functionality and reduce public lighting costs.
A complete performance audit report is available on the website of the SAI of the Republic of Srpska.
