What services does your center provide?

We operate a SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system which monitors all city services except police and fire. We handle everything from power outages to opening a locked gate at a public park. College Station has 55,000 people plus the students at Texas A & M, so we get a lot of calls.

How is your office set up?

We have a horseshoe console with one to four dispatchers depending on the time of day. There are 11 computer monitors and a big electric map board. There’s a lot of equipment to work with and the bright overhead lights made it really difficult to see clearly.

How did you find out about the PerSONNA System?

A Lutron sales rep came in to discuss lighting with another department and someone told him we were having problems. He told me we could dim our fluorescents by remote control without having to leave our seats -- and that was exactly what I was looking for.

Has PerSONNA solved the problem?

Absolutely. We put the system in about two years ago and it truly has made our lives easier. Installation was fast and easy.

With several dispatchers, who controls the remote that dims the lights? Whoever gets here first for the shift gets to set the light level where he likes. Then it’s an unwritten rule that it’s kept at that level . . and we never have disagreements. No one complains because it’s always less bright than before . . I’d guess we dim to about 50% perceived light. And I know we’re saving on electricity.

So your dispatchers like PerSONNA?

They’re definitely more comfortable and I’m sure it cuts down on eyestrain. Beyond that, I think we do our jobs better and that’s important when you’re talking to people who are depending on you for help, especially in emergencies where every minute counts.