For businesses that are looking to become more energy efficient, there are a number of rebate & incentives programs available across Canada to help offset the initial investment costs.
The programs will vary by province/territory and can change throughout the year.
Below we've summarized the different rebate & incentives programs for businesses, specifically for lighting upgrades within each province/territory.
To quickly find your province, hit CTRL+F.
British Columbia
BC Hydro Incentives
Business Energy Savings Incentives
- BC Hydro will provide funding to cover approximately 25% of the upfront costs on your upgraded lighting through energy-saving incentives.
- Incentives are only available for simple, one-for-one replacements, as opposed to complex re-design projects.
- To get started, you’d need to register on BC Hydro's CEM (Conservation and Energy Management) Hub and start an online application.
Self-Serve Incentives
Geared towards industrial facilities, BC Hydro will cover between 25-50% of your industrial lighting upgrade. Incentives are based on the estimated energy savings and cost of your project. The more energy you save, the greater the incentive.
Eligibility: your facility uses over 500 megawatt-hours of electricity per yaer.
Custom Project Incentives
Distribution Customers
- Incentive Rate: 2¢ to 5¢ per kWh, depending on your project payback period.
- Maximum Incentive: $1 million, one-year payback amount, or 75% of project cost, whichever is least. See sample calculation
Transmission Customers
- Incentive Rate: 4¢ per kWh
- Maximum Incentive: $1 million or 75% of project cost, whichever is less. See sample calculation
Integrated Energy Audit
- Get up to 100% funding for an energy expert to conduct an energy audit of your facility. The audit will determine major areas of energy usage and which of your systems presents the best opportunities for improved efficiency.
- Specifically for industrial or large commercial facilities
- Your business must use more than two gigawatt-hours of electricity per year.
Other programs and incentives can be reviewed here.
FortisBC Incentives
Commercial Lighting Rebates
- Rebates to help offset the incremental cost of upgrading to high-efficiency commercial LED lighting, signage and controls.
- Must be a commercial, industrial or irrigation FortisBC or municipal electricity customer of Grand Forks, Penticton, Summerland, or Nelson Hydro.
Learn more about the available rebates through FortIsBC here.
Alberta
Emissions Reduction Alberta - Energy Savings for Business
This program will help eligible Alberta businesses reduce emissions, decrease operating costs, grow their operations and become more competitive
ESB will give businesses fast access to incentives for cost-effective efficiency measures:
- Up to $250,000 is available per project
- Up to $1 million per parent company is available to cover the cost of products and services
- Minimum incentive amount of $500 *NEW
Since this article has been updated as of March 2024, all current funding made available through this program has been awarded. Any applications that have not received pre-approval notice have been added to a waitlist. Funding may become available again in the near future.
Learn more about the program and products eligible for incentives
Manitoba
Efficiency Manitoba - Business Lighting Program
This program offers financial incentives for energy-efficient lighting upgrades to your business.
For a limited time as well, the BLP is offering bonuses for customers; they are increasing their current incentives by 25% for BLP applications completed before March 31, 2024.
Incentives are available for various fixtures including: LED Lamps, LED fixtures, LED Backlit Signs, Lighting Controls, and more.
Ontario
Save on Energy - Retrofit Program
The Save on Energy retrofit program offers businesses incentives to upgrade equipment, reduce energy bills, and lower carbon footprints and enhance staff comfort. It offers financial incentives through a few streams.
Custom Stream
Offers financial incentives for businesses to undertake larger, more complex retrofit projects; this stream is structured to accommodate a wide range of project types.
Prescriptive Stream
Offers financial incentives for targeted retrofits. This stream, which focuses on commonly used products and technologies, is suitable for more typical upgrades of equipment.
New programs have recently been added, including a greenhouse stream and incentives for distributed energy resources in Ottawa; Learn More.
Better Buildings Partnership
Through the BBP program, the City of Toronto delivers various programs that provide funding, expertise, and support to help building owners improve energy efficiency and accelerate emissions reductions in their residential, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings across Toronto.
There are a variety of programs, including:
- Better Buildings Navigation & Support Services
- Deep Retrofit Challenge
- Energy Retrofit Loans
- High-Rise Retrofit Improvement Support Program
- Eco-Roof Incentive Program
View all program offerings and details here.
New Brunswick
Business Rebate Program
This program offers you 25% back on energy efficient products and equipment for your business; including switching to LED lighting.
Incentives are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis until December 31, 2023 or until all funds are depleted. There is a lifetime cap of $250,000 per eligible project site.
Learn more about these incentives & eligibility criteria.
Newfoundland & Labrador
takeCHARGE Business Program
This program offers both product rebates and custom solutions for businesses looking to make energy efficient upgrades, including upgrading to LED lighting.
- Product Rebates: rebates available on select LED tubes, bulbs, high bays, exit signs, luminaires, pole lighting, wall packs, occupancy sensors, and more.
- Custom Solutions: takeCHARGE will rebate $0.10/kWh of your first year energy savings up to a maximum of $50,000. Demand savings may also qualify.
Northwest Territories
The Arctic Energy Alliance - Energy Efficient Products
The Arctic Energy Alliance (AEA) provides rebates to northerners who purchase new, more energy efficient models of products that they use every day, including LED Lighting.
Residents, businesses, non-profit organizations, and NWT community and indigenous governments are eligible for this program.
- Rebate amount for non-hydro communities: 50% of purchase cost for LED lighting, up to $400 per fiscal year.
- Rebate amount for hydro communities: 50% of purchase cost, up to $200 per fiscal year.
The current program guidelines are available from April 1st, 2023 - March 31st, 2024.
Nunavut
Nunavut currently does not have an incentive program for energy-efficient lighting, however they do offer a Commercial Power Subsidy for businesses earning less than $2 million in a calendar year. You can find out if you are eligible here.
Prince Edward Island
Business Energy Rebates
This program supports businesses, non-profits and institutional organizations, as well as industrial/agricultural facilities in choosing high-efficiency products, including lighting.
There are guidelines around with products are eligible to receive a rebate under this program; Learn More.
Yukon
The Good Energy Program
Energy Efficient Upgrades
The Good Energy Program offers rebates for energy efficient upgrades done in commercial, institutional and community buildings.
At this time, the program funding has all been allocated and they are no longer accepting applications. They may secure new funding in the near future, so be sure to check the website below periodically.
Learn more about how to apply for this program
Commercial Grade Energy Audit
The Good Energy Program offers rebates for energy efficient upgrades done in commercial, institutional and community buildings. Learn more about this program here.
This page has been updated as of March 2024.
Quebec & Saskatchewan currently do not have lighting rebate & incentive programs for businesses. We will update this page as additional information becomes available.
If you’ve been considering upgrading your lighting to LED, our team can make the process easier for you.
From an initial site visit to quotation, product ordering, coordinating installation and helping with the rebate/incentive process, our Lighting Consultants will take all the complication out of your project for you.
It all starts with a free consultation; reach out to our team today to get started!
