Chapter 2. Authority To Maintain And Service of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 14. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 2.

Whenever in the opinion of the city council of any city the public interest or convenience may require, that body may do one or more of the following:
  (a) Order any street lighting system to be maintained in or along the whole or any part of any one or more of the streets in such city.
  (b) Order electric current or energy, gas, or other illuminating agent to be furnished for such street lighting system. For any of the purposes expressed in subdivision (a) or (b) of this section, the city council may determine and declare the district to be benefited by any such improvement and fix the exterior boundaries thereof and assess, either partly or wholly, the costs and expenses (including all incidental expenses) of such improvement, or of any one or more of the items thereof, upon the lands in the district.

The city shall not be limited by the provisions of this part to the maintenance or servicing of street lighting systems, or any part thereof, owned only by the city, but the city council may also order such maintenance or service to be furnished upon street lighting systems provided and installed or to be installed by, and remaining the property of, any public utility, public corporation, or other person with whom a contract is entered into for such maintenance or service and may assess the costs and expenses of such maintenance, service, or installation in accordance with the provisions of this part.

If there is more than one street lighting system in any city any or all of such systems may be consolidated and improved under one proceeding. In such case the consolidated system shall be zoned so that those systems of approximately the same general type are grouped together. In any district wherein zones have been established under this part and where subsequent to such establishment, improvements are made to portions of the lighting system in any zone which are of the same general type as in other existing zones within the district, the portion of the zone which has been so improved may be transferred to a zone with a lighting system of the same general type pursuant to the same procedure of resolution, notice and hearing as are applicable under this chapter for the formation of the district.

Whenever a street lighting system is installed along a boundary line or street of any city, the city council may, by resolution, assess the land abutting upon such boundary line or street for the estimated cost and expense of improving the system, even though the system is partially or entirely without the boundaries of the city.

If land has been assessed pursuant to Section 18033, the city council may proceed in all respects in connection therewith as though the street lighting system were entirely within the city limits; except that the city council may enter into a contract with the legislative body of the city or county having jurisdiction over the adjoining territory either to improve all or any portion of the street lighting system, or to have all or any portion of the system improved by the legislative body of the adjoining territory. The legislative body contracting to furnish such improvement may enter into any contract or issue any purchase order authorized in this part.