Read time : 10 min
Updated on 9 April 2026

Public Lighting Technical Proposal: How to Win LED Renovation and Maintenance Contracts

Public lighting contracts — LED retrofits, new installations, maintenance and energy management — represent a major investment area for local authorities seeking energy savings. The buyer expects proposals that combine technical expertise in electrical installation with energy performance calculations and compliance with light pollution regulations. Your technical proposal must demonstrate measurable energy savings and long-term reliability.

What the buyer evaluates in a lighting proposal

Public lighting evaluation criteria focus on: your lighting design calculations (photometric studies, uniformity, luminance), energy performance and savings calculations (before/after comparison), compliance with light pollution regulations (2018 decree: colour temperature, intensity, extinction schedules), your LED product selection and warranty terms, your approach to smart lighting and remote management, and maintenance response times and procedures.

The buyer wants concrete numbers: kWh saved, CO2 reduced, return on investment period.

Recommended structure for a lighting proposal

A strong lighting proposal covers:

Audit and lighting design

Describe your audit methodology: inventory of existing installations, energy consumption analysis, photometric measurements. Present your lighting design: luminaire selection, pole layout, light levels compliant with NF EN 13201 road lighting classes.

Energy performance

Quantify the expected savings: current vs proposed consumption in kWh/year, percentage reduction, financial savings, CO2 reduction. Include your assumptions and calculation methodology. A comparison table is highly effective.

Smart management and dimming

Detail your remote management system: dimming schedules, motion detection, fault reporting, energy monitoring. Explain how smart controls enhance savings beyond simple LED retrofit.

Installation and maintenance

Describe your installation methodology: works phasing, traffic management, electrical safety procedures. For maintenance contracts, detail response times, preventive maintenance schedules, spare parts management.

Common mistakes in lighting proposals

No energy calculations — Claiming "LED saves energy" without providing specific before/after calculations and savings projections is insufficient.

Light pollution non-compliance — Not addressing the 2018 decree on light pollution (colour temperature limits, intensity restrictions, extinction schedules) is a regulatory red flag.

Ignoring smart controls — Proposing simple LED replacement without dimming or remote management misses the buyer's full expectation for modern installations.

No photometric study — Failing to demonstrate that your design meets NF EN 13201 lighting classes for the specific road types is a technical weakness.

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