Main Street Efficiency brings lighting upgrade incentives to small businesses and organizations to reduce electric use, lower utility bills and improve lighting quality

How It Works
The Main Street Efficiency program is sponsored by MLGW and TVA, our power generator, to fund lighting upgrades for eligible small businesses and organizations. Small commercial customers with electric demand of no more than 100 kilowatts can receive a free lighting energy assessment with a report showing how their facility could reduce energy use with specific efficient lighting upgrades.  TVA will pay 50% upfront to reduce the cost of recommended lighting retrofits, which are installed by TVA’s licensed electrical contractors. The assessments are conducted by Lime Energy employees, who carry photo identification.

Type of Lighting Changed
Lighting upgrades depend on your existing equipment and could include replacement of existing T12 fluorescent fixtures with higher efficiency TLED lamps; changing incandescent bulbs to LEDs lights; and upgrading exit signs to LED technology.  In addition, high-bay lighting, outdoor canopy lighting and exterior wall-pack lighting also are eligible.  These new fixture types mean previous participants may have additional opportunities now.

Benefits to Your Business or Organization

• Lower energy bills
   
• Enhanced quality of lighting
   
• Improved lighting equipment longevity
   
• Receive 50% upfront cost share on qualified lighting upgrades (Due to program changes in lighting standards, the initial incentives changed in October 2015.)

Program Success
Main Street Efficiency has begun its third year in Shelby County. During the first two years,  6,251 small businesses and organizations received free lighting assessments, with 6,003 receiving lighting upgrades and the financial incentive from TVA.  Read what three Memphis small business owners had to say about their experiences.   Among participants, Main Street Efficiency lighting upgrades will save nearly 35 million kWh in annual electricity use and approximately $3.5 million in annual electricity costs.  That’s an average energy savings of $575 per participant—in addition to the upfront incentive and better lighting!

TVA invested more than $7 million in the pilot during its first two years, with another $3 million budgeted for investment through September 2016. Since funding is limited, the program works in zones, contacting customers with the most likely facility types. MLGW mails letters to potential participants as we enter an area, but interested customers also may use the link below to see if your business/organization is eligible. Occasionally, Lime Energy representatives may visit a location to talk about the program before the MLGW letter has arrived. If you have questions about the program's legitimacy, please call MLGW's Business Solutions Center at 901-528-4270.
 
How to Enroll
Use this link to access and complete the eligibility form to see if your facility qualifies. If your facility is eligible, you can either call to schedule an appointment or enter your contact information to have a program representative contact you. To learn more about Main Street Efficiency, call Lime Energy  at 855-494-8159 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST.

Main Street Efficiency brings lighting upgrade incentives to small businesses and organizations to reduce electric use, lower utility bills and improve lighting quality