POWER OF ATTORNEY

     Know all by these presents, that the undersigned
hereby constitutes and appoints each of C. Dan Smith,
Seniour Vice  President, Treasurer and Secretary,
Lisa Wyn, Vice President and Controller, and Jill A.
Gilmer, Executive Compensation Director and Assistant
Secretary, signing singly, the undersigned's true and
lawful attorney-in-fact to:

1.   execute for and on behalf of the undersigned, in the
undersigned's capacity as an officer  and/or  director of
Acuity  Brands, Inc. (the "Company"), Forms 3, 4, and 5 in
accordance  with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder;

2.   do and perform any and all acts for and on behalf of
the undersigned  which may be necessary or desirable to
complete and execute any such Form 3, 4, or 5, complete
and execute any amendment or amendments thereto, and
timely file such form with the United States  Securities
and Exchange Commission and any stock exchange or similar
authority; and

3.   take any other action of any type whatsoever in
connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such
attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest
of, or legally required by, the  undersigned, it being
understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-
fact on behalf of the  undersigned  pursuant to this Power of
Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms
and conditions as such attorney-in-fact may approve in such
attorney-in-fact's discretion.

     The undersigned hereby grants to each such attorney-in-
fact full power and authority to do and perform any and
every act and thing whatsoever requisite, necessary, or
proper to be done in the exercise of any of the rights
and powers herein granted, as fully to all intents and
purposes as the undersigned might or could do if personally
present, with full power of substitution or revocation,
hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorney-in-
fact, or such attorney-in-fact's substitute or substitutes,
shall lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue of this
power of attorney and the rights and powers herein granted.
The undersigned acknowledges that the foregoing attorneys-
in-fact, in serving in such capacity at the request of the
undersigned, are not assuming, nor is the Company assuming,
any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with
Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

     This Power of Attorney shall remain in full force
and effect until the undersigned is no longer required to
file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with respect to the undersigned's
holdings of and transactions in securities issued by the
Company, unless earlier revoked by the  undersigned in
a signed writing delivered to the foregoing attorneys-
in-fact.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this
Power of Attorney to be executed as of November 2, 2017.



                      /s/ Laurent Vernerey
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                              Signature

                       Laurent Vernerey
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                               Print Name