ComEd incentives now apply to Canto USA’s RETRO Series through the utility’s custom incentive program—opening a path for some facilities to receive larger rebates based on calculated energy savings rather than a smaller per-lamp discount. The ComEd technical review approved a RETRO Series installation for Governors State University, allowing the school to qualify for a custom incentive rather than only the instant per-lamp rebate.
ComEd, a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation, offers rebates and incentives for businesses, theatres, schools, and other facilities that upgrade to energy-efficient lighting. In this case, the utility updated its classification and approved the installation through its custom program, enabling the larger calculated-incentive award for the RETRO project described below.
ComEd incentives and the Governors State University RETRO project
Governors State University in University Park, Illinois, planned an upgrade using 71 Canto USA RETRO-Fusion® units in 150-, 300-, and 500-watt models. The project initially ran into an issue with ComEd’s incentive requirements because the fixtures could use multiple screw-in power options.
At first, ComEd indicated the RETRO units would need to be installed with bare wire by an electrician to qualify for the custom program. Without custom approval, the university would have received only a $5-per-lamp instant discount. Matt Huffman of Resource Innovations, an outreach service provider for the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, worked with Governors State University on the application and coordinated the technical review with ComEd.
After ComEd completed its technical review, it approved the project for a custom incentive. The final incentive was $6,243.57, based on 89,193.92 kWh in calculated annual energy savings and the program’s then-current incentive rate of $0.07 per kWh. Compared with the original per-lamp discount, the custom approval gave the university a substantially larger incentive based on the projected energy savings from the complete retrofit.
Why the ComEd incentive approval mattered
One advantage of Canto USA’s RETRO Series LED retrofit kits is the ability to reuse compatible existing fixtures and sockets rather than automatically replacing the entire fixture or requiring additional wiring. That can reduce the work involved in a retrofit and help facilities make better use of lighting equipment already in place.
For theatres, schools, universities, auditoriums, and other facilities with many existing fixtures, installation requirements can significantly affect the overall scope of a lighting upgrade. Replacing a lamp or retrofit component is very different from rewiring or replacing dozens of fixtures throughout a building. The Governors State University project illustrated how installation method and classification with the utility can change the size of the available incentive.
John Luhrs of Canto USA explained:
“This is a positive movement forward since the requirements of having a professional electrician install would not allow a customer to install the RETRO series themselves. Our RETRO series allows customers to reuse the current socket in a fixture. This decreases any extra work, installation time, and costs to meet the criteria, allowing our Illinois customers to maximize the savings of doing a retrofit in their facility.”
For Governors State University, the revised approval meant the calculated energy savings from the RETRO installation qualified the project for a much larger utility incentive than the original per-lamp discount.
Planning an LED retrofit around utility incentives
If you are pursuing ComEd incentives for an LED lighting upgrade, review incentive requirements early in the planning process. The lighting equipment, installation method, projected energy savings, and utility program rules can all affect how a project is evaluated and whether it qualifies for a custom incentive versus an instant discount.
- Confirm current program requirements and incentive rates with ComEd before finalizing scope or procurement.
- Gather manufacturer spec sheets (lamp wattages, lumen output, dimming compatibility) and projected hours of operation to support energy-savings calculations.
- Ask whether pre-approval or a technical review is required for custom incentives and allow time in the schedule for that review.
- Work with an outreach provider or energy-efficiency consultant (for example, Resource Innovations) and your lighting supplier to prepare documentation and modeling the utility may request.
- Clarify installation method (e.g., reuse of existing sockets versus rewiring) so the project aligns with utility eligibility and maximizes potential incentives.
Canto USA’s RETRO Series is built for projects where the existing houselights and sockets are still worth keeping. Instead of replacing the whole fixture, the venue can change the light source to LED and leave the rest of the setup in place. If you need product details and spec sheets, view the RETRO Series product section on Canto USA’s website or discuss your fixture and dimming requirements with the supplier.
For a project example that demonstrates RETRO Series energy savings in an installed setting, see the RETRO Series project at The Old Globe Theatre: Canto USA’s RETRO Series Brings LED Retrofit Energy Savings to The Old Globe Theatre.
Canto USA’s RETRO Series fully dimmable LED retrofit houselights
The RETRO-Fusion® and RETRO-Passive® 2.0 options are phase-dimmable LED retrofit engines designed for older SCR, TRIAC, and IGBT dimmer systems, while remaining compatible with newer dimmer systems. They are available for a range of applications, including retrofit projects and new installations.
If you are reviewing an incentive-driven retrofit, explore the RETRO Series and compare configurations that fit your fixture and dimming needs. Early coordination with the utility and documentation of projected savings can materially affect the incentive outcome.
