The Bogotá city administration has filed a project with the City Council to modernize public lighting using intelligent LED technology [1].
This initiative aims to improve urban quality of life and lower energy consumption by replacing traditional lamps with digital management systems [2]. The transition to smarter infrastructure is intended to reduce the city's carbon footprint while enhancing public safety through more reliable illumination [2].
According to official reports, 100% of the city's public lighting is now LED [3]. A spokesperson for the city of Bogotá said this transition allowed the city to save energy in a single year equivalent to the consumption of 144,000 refrigerators [3].
To support these goals, the city is engaging with experienced providers. Dolmen, a company with more than 30 years of experience [4], is currently active in more than 60 cities across nine departments [4]. A representative of Dolmen said the company seeks to impact the quality of life of the populations it serves [4].
Beyond the hardware upgrades, the project involves a broader tax reform. The Mayor's Office has brought a proposal to the Council that includes charges for public lighting, as well as specific exemptions, and relief for debtors [1]. This fiscal approach is designed to ensure the sustainability of the lighting infrastructure over the long term.
Alcaldía de Bogotá said the initiative has already been filed before the Council of Bogotá [1]. The project will now undergo legislative review to determine the final implementation and funding mechanisms for the digital management systems.
“The city saved energy in a single year equivalent to the consumption of 144,000 refrigerators.”
Bogotá is shifting from a basic hardware upgrade—replacing bulbs with LEDs—to a systemic digital overhaul. By integrating smart management systems and updating the tax code to fund them, the city is attempting to create a self-sustaining model of urban utility management that prioritizes energy efficiency and fiscal recovery from debtors.
