Public Lighting May Seem Like It's The City's Responsibility, But It's Actually Yours

Public Lighting May Seem Like It’s The City’s Responsibility, But It’s Actually Yours

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 21/06/2025 at 08:47

Updated on 21/06/2025 at 09:03

Foto: Reprodução

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Even Though It Is a Public Service, Street Lighting Is Paid For by the Residents Themselves

When it comes to public lighting, many believe that the service is maintained by the city hall. After all, if the light is on the streets, squares, and sidewalks, it seems logical to think that it is funded with public money. But the reality is different: the citizen is the one who pays this bill — in two different ways.

The main form of charge is the CIP, which stands for Contribution for Public Lighting. This amount appears on the electricity bill every month, usually in a separate line.

Created based on Article 149-A of the Federal Constitution, the CIP can be established by each municipality, with its own rules.

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CIP Is Mandatory and Comes with the Electricity Bill

The charging of the CIP is not optional. If the city where you live has established this contribution by law, it will be automatically included in the bill.

It does not matter if you use the street light or not. The mere fact of consuming electric energy activates the charge.

For this reason, many people are surprised to see different CIP amounts on their electricity bill. Those who consume little may pay less than R$ 5. Those who consume more may see over R$ 80 just for the lighting contribution.

It is a proportional system that seeks to keep the service running, but it also raises doubts. After all, the charge is not fixed, nor does it directly depend on the use of the service.

Public Lighting May Seem Like It’s The City’s Responsibility, But It’s Actually Yours

Even Though It Is a Public Service, Street Lighting Is Paid For by the Residents Themselves

CIP Is Mandatory and Comes with the Electricity Bill

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Public Lighting May Seem Like It’s The City’s Responsibility, But It’s Actually Yours

Even Though It Is a Public Service, Street Lighting Is Paid For by the Residents Themselves

CIP Is Mandatory and Comes with the Electricity Bill

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