Con Edison Lighting Incentives: A Contractor's Guide
Con Edison lighting incentives run through the contractor, not the customer, and that changes how you quote. Under the Instant Lighting Incentive Program, reimbursement is paid to the approved Participating Contractor, the incentive must appear on the customer invoice, and at least $1 per lamp and $2 per fixture or retrofit kit has to be passed through. You need approved status before any of it applies. There is also a hard date this year: projects must be complete and paperwork submitted by October 15, 2026 to be guaranteed 2026 incentive rates. Here is what to confirm before you put a number in front of a customer.
Which Con Edison path applies to your job
Standard LED measures listed in the New York State Technical Resource Manual run through the Prescriptive path, using Con Edison's C&I Lighting Calculator with standardized baseline wattages, not measured wattage. Non-standard or complex measures use the Custom path, requiring a custom engineering calculation. Small business or nonprofit customers in an eligible territory, such as Southeast Queens, use the Neighborhood Program instead, the only path offering small business lighting incentives.
Deadline: October 15, 2026
All 2026 C&I projects must be completed, with documents received and ready for post-inspection, by October 15, 2026 to guarantee 2026 incentive rates.
Program numbers
Incentives are capped at 50% of eligible project cost or 100% of a single measure's cost, whichever is lower, with an annual cap of $1 million for electric measures and $250,000 for gas measures per customer. Once a Notice to Proceed is issued, 90 days are allowed to complete installation and submit paperwork.
Lighting controls
Bi-level, occupancy, and daylight-responsive controls are factored into the same prescriptive and custom calculation rather than paid as a separate flat rebate.
Southeast Queens bonus and the small business lighting rule
An additional Neighborhood Bonus of $2,000 per kW, covering up to 100% of installation cost, is available for buildings in the Jamaica area of Southeast Queens, with applications running May 1 to September 30, 2026, capped at $500,000 per contractor or customer. For the Small Business and Nonprofit program generally, lighting incentives are Neighborhood Program only.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to guarantee 2026 Con Edison incentive rates?
October 15, 2026, for completion and documentation.
What is the difference between the prescriptive and custom path?
Prescriptive covers measures listed in the New York State TRM using standardized methodology. Custom covers measures not listed in the TRM, requiring a custom engineering calculation.
Can I count on my measured existing wattage for the incentive calculation?
No. Con Edison uses standardized baseline wattages for the existing luminaire type, not the wattage measured on site.
Does every Con Edison small business qualify for a lighting incentive?
No. Lighting incentives under the Small Business and Nonprofit program are Neighborhood Program only, limited to eligible territories such as Southeast Queens.
Can I show the Con Edison incentive amount in my customer proposal?
Yes, labeled as an estimate, pending Con Edison's application review and inspection.