Lighting Retrofits for Stratas & Small Commercial: Where BC Hydro Pays You Back (2026 Incentives)
- akaielectricltd
- Dec 13, 2025
- 4 min read
This 2025 guide shows strata councils and small commercial owners how to use BC Hydro incentives to fund LED lighting upgrades. It explains which program you’ll use, how the limited-time 30% bonus works, and the steps to get pre-approval and paid quickly.
Quick answer:
BC Hydro’s Business Energy-Saving Incentives (BESI) pay for simple, one-for-one lighting retrofits using approved products from the e.Catalog.
There is a limited-time 30% bonus on eligible business projects submitted by February 12, 2026. Completion is due March 14, 2027.
Multi-unit residential buildings (stratas and rentals) can also access a 30% bonus through the MURB retrofit stream within its stated window.
Large facilities can use Self-Serve or Custom incentives for more complex lighting and controls.
Getting pre-approval, choosing listed equipment, and submitting completion documents on time are the three keys to maximizing funding.
👉 Plan and install your retrofit
👉 Set up long-term strata support and inspections
At-a-glance: which BC Hydro program fits your building
Building type / scope | Typical lighting upgrades | Program stream | 30% bonus timing | Notes |
Small commercial retail, office, restaurant | Troffers and panels to LED, wall packs, pole lights, signage, occupancy/daylight sensors | BESI (Business Energy-Saving Incentives) | Projects submitted Jun 3, 2025 to Feb 12, 2026, complete by Mar 14, 2027 | Simple one-for-one retrofits using e.Catalog products |
Strata common areas (corridors, stairwells, parking garage, exterior) | Garage fixtures, stairwell bi-level fixtures, canopies, pole heads, wall packs | MURB equipment upgrades | Projects submitted Sep 1, 2025 to Feb 12, 2026, implement by Mar 14, 2027 | Bonus applies to lighting and mechanical upgrades in the MURB stream |
Larger sites (>500 MWh/yr) or redesign/network controls | Networked lighting controls, redesign, large high-bay swaps | Self-Serve or Custom | Projects submitted Jun 3, 2025 to Feb 12, 2026, complete by Mar 14, 2027 | Use calculators and worksheets; controls often need the Custom path |
Legacy lamps to TLEDs | Tubular LED replacements | BESI | Within the same bonus window above | TLEDs are now eligible under BESI |
What qualifies and how much you can expect
Eligible measures are laid out in the BC Hydro e.Catalog. Incentive amounts vary by product family, lumen output, and wattage.
Typical wins for stratas and small businesses include replacing metal halide or HPS with LED wall packs and area lights, fluorescent troffers with LED panels, and garage or stairwell fixtures with high-efficiency or bi-level LEDs.
Self-Serve and Custom streams can fund lighting redesigns and networked lighting controls in larger buildings when savings are modeled correctly.
Who qualifies in 2025
Strata corporations and rental buildings upgrading common-area lighting.
Small to mid-size commercial sites doing one-for-one LED retrofits.
Large commercial or industrial customers planning controls or redesigns with measurable savings.
Dates, deadlines, and coordination tips
30% bonus for BESI, Self-Serve, and Custom: submit projects by February 12, 2026 and complete by March 14, 2027.
30% bonus for MURB: submit between September 1, 2025 and February 12, 2026 and implement by March 14, 2027.
Use listed products from the e.Catalog for BESI one-for-one retrofits. Non-listed equipment can jeopardize eligibility.
Pre-approval first. Do not purchase equipment until your application is approved.
Keep invoices, cut sheets, photos, and as-built fixture counts ready. They are required at completion.
Stacking and special cases
Controls and redesigns. Networked lighting controls, daylighting, and bi-level strategies often shift a project into Self-Serve or Custom.
Parking garages and exterior lighting. These areas typically deliver the best savings and maintenance wins for stratas.
TLEDs. Tubular LED replacements are explicitly eligible under BESI, which can simplify hallway and office retrofits without a full fixture swap.
How to proceed in 3 steps
For strata councils
Identify target areas: garage, stairwells, corridors, exterior. Capture fixture counts and hours of use.
Choose e.Catalog-listed fixtures for one-for-one swaps, or plan a controls redesign if savings justify it.
Apply for pre-approval, install, then submit completion docs for incentive payment.
For small businesses
Walk the site and list fixtures by type and wattage. Prioritize long-hour areas first.
Select qualifying LED replacements and sensors, confirm eligibility, and file the application during the bonus window.
Install after approval, submit completion package, and schedule a post-retrofit check.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to use products from BC Hydro’s e.Catalog
For BESI one-for-one retrofits, yes, choose listed configurations and products. Non-listed items may be rejected.
Can I get incentives for lighting controls
Yes. Controls can be included under Self-Serve or Custom when the project is modeled and pre-approved.
Is the 30% bonus guaranteed for stratas
Yes if you submit within the stated window, complete by the deadline, and meet program rules. The MURB stream has its own bonus dates; apply under the correct stream.
What if my building is large and runs over 500 MWh per year
Use Self-Serve or Custom. These streams support complex lighting and controls beyond one-for-one swaps.
Can I start buying fixtures before approval
No. Wait for pre-approval to protect eligibility and ensure the bonus applies.
Make it easy with Akai Electric
We design, apply, and install qualifying lighting retrofits for stratas and small businesses across the Lower Mainland. From e.Catalog selections to post-retrofit documentation, we handle the paperwork and the work.
Get a same-week walkthrough
Keep your strata on track year-round
Sources
Topic or claim | Official source |
BESI program page and 30% bonus on business projects submitted Jun 3, 2025 to Feb 12, 2026; completion by Mar 14, 2027 | |
Self-Serve incentives page and 30% bonus window and completion deadline | |
Custom project incentives page and 30% bonus window and completion deadline | |
BC Hydro program update article confirming 30% bonus deadline and scope | |
MURB equipment-upgrade stream with 30% bonus dates and completion deadline | |
BESI eligibility note for simple one-for-one retrofits and using the e.Catalog | |
BC Hydro e.Catalog for qualifying lighting configurations and products | |
Alliance update that tubular LEDs are eligible under BESI |
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