DTE Energy Offers Cash Incentives To Adopt New Lighting Standards

DETROIT -- DTE Energy is offering special cash incentives to business owners who invest in new energy efficient lighting technologies under a new federal program.

The incentives will be available through July 31 as part of the company's Energy Efficiency Program for Business.

The cash incentives are available to businesses that convert older model, T12 fluorescent lights to high performance or low wattage-high performance T8 lamps and electronic ballasts. Federal legislation calls upon importers and manufacturers of the commonly found T12 fluorescent lights to stop making the those products. It is expected that shortly after the new federal rules take effect, cash incentives will no longer be offered for this common retrofit.

"We realize this legislation could significantly affect many of our business customers," said Bill Clemens, manager of energy efficiency program for DTE Energy. "We want to help our customers cover a portion of the investment needed to upgrade to the latest energy efficient technology. By retrofitting their outdated lights now, businesses can not only take advantage of the incentives that will likely be discontinued, but they will also avoid increased costs of replacing those lights in the future."

The Energy Efficiency Program for Business (dteenergy.com/saveenergy) was launched in 2009 to help DTE Energy customers save money by using less energy. The program offers customers a wide array of energy efficiency ideas and incentives. Customers can earn incentives if they make improvements from a list of qualified efficiency upgrades for both gas and electric technologies, including energy-efficient lighting, drives, controls, heating ventilation and air conditioning and more.

For more information, visit the program website at www.dteenergy.com/saveenergy, or call (866) 796-0512, Option 3.