Street lights are an effective deterrent to crime. Car and home break-ins are far less likely to happen in an exposed, well-lit area. If you ever notice a problem with a street light, be a responsible neighbor and call the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) at (415) 554-0730. You can also email them at street.lights@sfwater.org.

Make sure to include the following details in your report:

• The exact address of the problem (nearest house number, exact street name and names of cross-streets).
  
  
• A description of the problem: Is it an outage? Is the light damaged? Are tree leaves blocking drivers' view of the light?
  
  
• Your name, phone number or email address so that the PUC can contact you if needed. In addition, you can request that a SFPUC representative follow up with you regarding your report.

You may also request additional lighting be installed on your street. Call the SFPUC at (415) 554-0730 and explain where you think the light should go — e.g., the nearest street address and cross streets — and why you feel it is needed. Your request will have to be reviewed and approved before installation, so you shouldn’t count on your block becoming brighter right away.