Businesses in the Indianapolis area planning lighting upgrades may see stronger financial support in 2026. AES Indiana has increased several lighting incentives, particularly for high-bay LED fixtures and networked lighting controls (NLC), through its Business Rebates & Incentives program.
For facilities and operations leaders evaluating lighting retrofits, the updated rebate structure may improve project economics and influence upgrade timing across warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and commercial buildings.
What Is the AES Indiana Lighting Rebate Program?
AES Indiana offers prescriptive rebates for energy-efficient lighting upgrades designed to help businesses reduce energy consumption and operating costs. The program supports a range of measures including LED fixtures, retrofit kits, troffers, exterior lighting, and lighting controls.
Eligible equipment must meet ENERGY STAR® or DLC product eligibility requirements, and total rebates are capped at 50% of the project.
The program is available to business customers within AES Indiana’s Indianapolis-area service territory.
2026 Incentive Increases for High-Bay Lighting
One of the most notable updates for 2026 is the increase in incentives for high-bay LED fixtures, which are common in large commercial and industrial spaces such as warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants.
Updated incentive levels include:
- High bays (10–15K lumens): $93.75 per fixture
- High bays (15–30K lumens): $150 per fixture
- High bays (30–50K lumens): $218.75 per fixture
- High bays (over 50K lumens): $300 per fixture
High-bay upgrades often represent some of the largest lighting loads in a facility, so changes to these rebate levels can significantly impact project payback calculations.
Increased Incentives for Networked Lighting Controls
AES Indiana has also increased support for Networked Lighting Controls (NLC).
For 2026, the incentive is now:
- $0.56 per watt controlled
Lighting controls allow fixtures to automatically respond to occupancy, daylight availability, or scheduling, helping ensure lighting systems only operate when needed.
Adding lighting controls alongside LED upgrades can significantly reduce energy consumption while maintaining the same level of illumination.
Why These Incentive Changes Matter for Facilities Teams
For facilities managers and energy leaders, lighting retrofits are often among the fastest efficiency projects to implement across a building portfolio.
Higher incentives can help:
- Offset capital costs for large fixture replacement projects
- Improve financial returns for LED retrofits in high-ceiling spaces
- Strengthen the business case for pairing LED upgrades with controls
- Support long-term maintenance reductions from longer-lasting LED systems
In many cases, lighting upgrades also deliver operational benefits such as improved visibility, lower maintenance requirements, and more consistent light quality.
Planning a Lighting Upgrade in the AES Indiana Territory?
For organizations evaluating LED lighting or lighting control upgrades, understanding available incentives can significantly impact project planning and financial outcomes.
Pacific Energy Concepts (PEC) works with businesses across the region to identify eligible lighting upgrades, evaluate available utility incentives, and help ensure projects align with current program requirements.
If you are considering a high-bay lighting retrofit, facility-wide LED upgrade, or lighting controls installation, PEC can help assess opportunities and determine how programs like the AES Indiana Business Rebates & Incentives program may apply to your project.
