Denver, Colorado
Commercial Energy Savings & Rebates in Denver
Business buildings in Denver may be able to get energy rebates, lighting rebates, ways to pay, and help from local energy programs. What you can get depends on the address, utility, building size, and type of work.
Quick answers
Common Denver Energy Questions
Does Denver have commercial energy rebates?
Denver businesses that qualify may be able to get utility rebates for lights, controls, heating, cooling, and custom work. What you can get depends on your utility and its current rules.
Rebates are run by utilities, not by the City. That is why the first step is confirming which utility serves your building address.
Which electric utility serves my Denver building?
Most of Denver is served by Xcel Energy, but service can differ by address. Look at your current electric bill to be sure.
Service area lines do not always match city lines. A site near the edge of Denver may use a different utility.
Step 1
Find Your Electric Utility
Xcel Energy / Public Service Company of Colorado
Investor-Owned Utility · Electric
Xcel Energy serves most of Denver, but service can differ by address. Check your electric bill.
Check your electric bill to confirm.
United Power
Electric Cooperative · Electric
United Power serves areas north and east of Denver. Some addresses near the edge of the metro area may be served by United Power.
Check your electric bill to confirm.
Utility areas do not always match city lines. Check the utility name on your latest electric bill before you apply.
Step 2
Denver Commercial Energy Rebates
United Power
Pre-Authorized Commercial LED Lighting
Lighting · Commercial · Program year 2026
Existing fixture retrofit only. New construction and LED-to-LED replacement are not eligible. DLC or ENERGY STAR certification required. Generally 20% of fixture/lamp material cost subject to program caps.
- Preapproval needed
- No
- Deadline
- Not verified
Xcel Energy / Public Service Company of Colorado
Commercial Lighting Efficiency
Lighting · Commercial
Lighting efficiency offerings for qualifying Colorado business customers. Prescriptive, instant and custom paths may be available depending on the current program.
Lighting projects are the most common first step for Denver commercial buildings.
- Preapproval needed
- Not verified
- Deadline
- Not verified
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Occupancy SensorLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| LED Exit SignLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| Networked Lighting ControlsLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| LED Low BayLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| LED Refrigerated Case LightingLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| LED High BayLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| Daylight SensorLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| Custom Lighting MeasureLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
Xcel Energy / Public Service Company of Colorado
Lighting Efficiency
Lighting · Commercial · Program year 2026
Existing facility lighting retrofits; custom lighting and other lighting paths also available. Verify exact current measure and preapproval rules before purchase.
- Preapproval needed
- Yes
- Deadline
- Not verified
Xcel Energy / Public Service Company of Colorado
Business Energy Efficiency Programs
Custom Efficiency · Commercial
Xcel Energy offers a set of energy efficiency programs for qualifying Colorado business customers. Categories and incentive levels are defined by the current program documents.
Available to eligible Xcel Energy business customers in Denver. Confirm your utility before you apply.
- Preapproval needed
- Not verified
- Deadline
- Not verified
United Power
Variable Speed Drives
Motors · Commercial · Program year 2026
New and retrofit VSD applications for qualifying motor sizes; current program formula and caps apply.
- Preapproval needed
- No
- Deadline
- Not verified
Xcel Energy / Public Service Company of Colorado
Energy Efficient Buildings
New Construction · Commercial · Program year 2026
Whole-building efficiency program for qualifying new construction, additions or major renovations. Enrollment should occur early.
- Preapproval needed
- Yes
- Deadline
- Not verified
Xcel Energy / Public Service Company of Colorado
Custom Efficiency
Custom · Commercial · Program year 2026
For qualifying efficiency projects outside standard prescriptive offerings. Custom projects require preapproval before equipment order, purchase or installation.
- Preapproval needed
- Yes
- Deadline
- Not verified
United Power
Commercial & Industrial Motors
Motors · Commercial · Program year 2026
Commercial motor incentives for qualifying United Power members; current program details and caps apply.
- Preapproval needed
- No
- Deadline
- Not verified
Step 3
Commercial Lighting Rebates
United Power
Pre-Authorized Commercial LED Lighting
Lighting · Commercial · Program year 2026
Existing fixture retrofit only. New construction and LED-to-LED replacement are not eligible. DLC or ENERGY STAR certification required. Generally 20% of fixture/lamp material cost subject to program caps.
- Preapproval needed
- No
- Deadline
- Not verified
Xcel Energy / Public Service Company of Colorado
Commercial Lighting Efficiency
Lighting · Commercial
Lighting efficiency offerings for qualifying Colorado business customers. Prescriptive, instant and custom paths may be available depending on the current program.
Lighting projects are the most common first step for Denver commercial buildings.
- Preapproval needed
- Not verified
- Deadline
- Not verified
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Occupancy SensorLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| LED Exit SignLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| Networked Lighting ControlsLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| LED Low BayLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| LED Refrigerated Case LightingLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| LED High BayLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| Daylight SensorLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
| Custom Lighting MeasureLighting | Amount not checked — contact the utility or read the official program file. |
Xcel Energy / Public Service Company of Colorado
Lighting Efficiency
Lighting · Commercial · Program year 2026
Existing facility lighting retrofits; custom lighting and other lighting paths also available. Verify exact current measure and preapproval rules before purchase.
- Preapproval needed
- Yes
- Deadline
- Not verified
Local rules
Energize Denver
Energize Denver
Benchmarking and performance
Energize Denver is a City and County of Denver rule for some larger buildings. Covered buildings report yearly energy use and work toward energy performance targets over time. Building size and dates decide who is covered. Confirm your building status with the City and County of Denver.
- Who may be covered
- About 25,000 sq ft and larger
- Building types
- Commercial and multifamily buildings
- Must you report energy use?
- Yes
- Must you meet an energy goal?
- Yes
Deadlines: Reporting and target dates are set by the City. Check the official page for the dates that apply to your building.
Fees for not following the rule: The City has published penalties for buildings that do not follow the rule. Check the official page for current amounts.
Building check
Does Energize Denver Apply to My Building?
This tool gives general guidance only. Please confirm your building status with the City and County of Denver.
Building types
Common Building Types
Office
Very highLights and cooling run when floors are partly empty. Older controls waste energy.
- Common lighting
- Recessed fluorescent troffers, early LED panels
- Typical hours
- Weekdays, about 10 to 12 hours
- Chance to save
- High
Warehouse
Very highHigh ceilings, long run hours, and few controls.
- Common lighting
- Metal halide or fluorescent high bay
- Typical hours
- Long shifts, sometimes 24 hours
- Chance to save
- Very high
Apartment
HighHallways, stairwells, and garages run all day and night.
- Common lighting
- Fluorescent and screw-in bulbs
- Typical hours
- 24 hours in common areas
- Chance to save
- High
Retail
HighSales floor lighting runs all open hours. Display lighting adds heat.
- Common lighting
- Track lighting, fluorescent, halogen
- Typical hours
- Open hours, 10 to 14 hours
- Chance to save
- Medium
Hotel
HighCommon areas and outdoor lighting run all night.
- Common lighting
- Screw-in bulbs, fluorescent, some LED
- Typical hours
- 24 hours
- Chance to save
- Medium
Parking Garage
Very highLighting runs 24 hours with no daylight control.
- Common lighting
- Fluorescent, metal halide, high pressure sodium
- Typical hours
- 24 hours
- Chance to save
- Very high
Restaurant
MediumKitchen exhaust and lighting run together for long hours.
- Common lighting
- Screw-in bulbs, fluorescent kitchen fixtures
- Typical hours
- 12 to 16 hours
- Chance to save
- Medium
Medical
HighLong hours and strict lighting quality needs.
- Common lighting
- Fluorescent troffers
- Typical hours
- 12 to 24 hours
- Chance to save
- Medium
Industrial
HighProcess areas with high bay lighting and older equipment.
- Common lighting
- Metal halide high bay
- Typical hours
- Shift based, often long
- Chance to save
- High
Good to know
Energy Help in Denver
Energy Audits
An energy audit is a walk through of your building by someone who looks at how energy is used. They check lighting, heating, cooling, hot water, and how long equipment runs.
You get a list of upgrades and a rough idea of what each one saves. Some utility programs pay part of the cost of a study for larger buildings. Ask your utility what is offered this year.
Financing
Many buildings pay for upgrades in one of three ways: cash, equipment financing through a lender, or a longer term program like Colorado C-PACE.
Rebates lower the amount you need to finance. Utility rebates are usually paid after the work is done and approved, so plan for that timing.
Colorado C-PACE
Colorado C-PACE is a state program. It lets some business building owners pay for energy work over a long time through an extra charge they choose on the property.
It is often used for larger projects that mix lighting, heating, cooling, and building shell work. Terms and eligibility are set by the program, so review the official program site before you plan around it.
Find a Commercial Energy Professional
We are not a contractor and we do not install equipment. When you are ready, we can point you to a commercial energy professional who works on buildings like yours.
Before you sign anything, ask for a written scope, the fixture or equipment list, the rebate paperwork plan, and who files the rebate application.
Colorado C-PACE can help pay for larger energy projects over time. Some utilities and lenders also offer financing. Terms depend on the building and the lender.
FAQs
Denver Energy FAQs
Does Denver have commercial energy rebates?
Denver businesses that qualify may be able to get utility rebates for lights, controls, heating, cooling, and custom work. What you can get depends on your utility and its current rules.
Rebates are run by utilities, not by the City. That is why the first step is confirming which utility serves your building address.
Which electric utility serves my Denver building?
Most of Denver is served by Xcel Energy, but service can differ by address. Look at your current electric bill to be sure.
Service area lines do not always match city lines. A site near the edge of Denver may use a different utility.
Do I have to follow Energize Denver?
Energize Denver applies to some larger buildings in the City and County of Denver. Building size and dates decide who is covered.
Our tool gives general guidance only. The City keeps the official covered building list and the current dates.
Is a lighting upgrade a good first project?
For many Denver buildings, yes. Lighting is often the easiest place to start. Savings are easy to track, and the work does not stop business for long.
Spaces that run long hours, like warehouses, parking garages, and apartment common areas, usually save the most.
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