Guide to LED Lighting Rebates by State

As the world’s population continues to grow, so does its need for a power supply. This constant strain on resources has power companies turning to their patrons for help and even offering them money back for installing or using energy-efficient devices. As one of the largest power draws across every industry, energy-efficient lighting is a prime candidate for rebates. And no bulb’s quite as efficient as an LED. Although once extremely expensive, compared to their counterparts, LEDs are relatively affordable in today’s market. In fact, in most states, you can earn a rebate for replacing incandescent, fluorescent, high-pressure sodium, metal halide, and other inefficient bulbs with long-lasting, energy-efficient LED lighting. Rebates help to mitigate the cost of purchasing and installing LED lights and are typically earned on a fixture-by-fixture basis. This means that if you’re replacing all the lighting for a large commercial or industrial facility, you could potentially receive thousands of dollars in rebates. This is just one of the many benefits of switching to LED lighting. Important: Utility rebate programs change frequently and may be modified or discontinued without notice. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not guarantee rebate eligibility. Always confirm current requirements directly with your local utility provider before making purchasing decisions.

Types of Rebates

There are a few different types of rebates. And what type of rebate you’ll receive depends entirely on what state you live in and what power company you’re dealing with. Here are the most common LED rebate types in the United States.

• Point of Sale (POS) – This rebate is issued automatically when eligible products are purchased. This is preferred by facility managers since there is no downtime spent waiting for the rebate to be processed.
• Prescriptive – This rebate is one paid out over a predetermined period, but it does usually allow you to choose your fixture, as long as it meets certain standards.
• Custom – The most complex of all rebates, a custom rebate allows you full control. Facility managers can propose custom rebates to power and utility companies, which often means a complex planning process.

State Lighting Rebates

Saving Money & Earning Rebates with LEDs

How to Determine Energy Savings for a Retrofit

The most intriguing part of switching to LED lighting is the money saved. And, whether that be through rebates, energy efficiency, or a combination of the two, it’s always encouraging to know approximately what your savings could be. Calculating energy savings is a somewhat complicated process, and you’ll need detailed information about your current lighting setup and the fixtures that you wish to upgrade to. We’ve listed everything you’ll need below.

• Original wattage per bulb
• Replacement wattage per bulb
• Number of bulbs replaced
• Energy expenses
• Daily “on” hours
• Annual “on” days
• The initial expense of the upgrade

Once you’ve gathered all this information, you can use this energy savings calculator to give you a realistic idea of how much you can expect to save. Be aware that the results from this calculator are an approximation, and your final savings may differ based on many factors. Although wattage is a good measure of energy efficiency, generally, LEDs are best measured in lumens.

Resources for Lighting Rebate Information

Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE). This database was put together by the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center and features a state-by-state breakdown of all incentives available. This includes federal grants and rebates, and links to other renewable energy organizations for in-depth information about how to complete your next retrofit or new build.

Contacting Your Utility Company

For hyper-local advice on lighting rebates, one of the best things you can do is call your local utility company. Below, you’ll find contact information and links to different rebate programs in every state. But, as we said before, there are often many, many different options. So, consider this a jumping-off point only. If the listed rebate, in your state, doesn’t appeal to you or suit your needs, there’s a good chance that a different program offers something better for you. And trust us, taking a few minutes to find a rebate is more than worth it.