Commercial LED retrofits and new lighting installs in Northern Colorado typically run $1,000–$20,000+ depending on scope. Parking lot pole-fixture replacements are $800–$1,500 per fixture. We handle warehouses, offices, retail, restaurants, parking lots, and tenant finishes — plus emergency egress and exit signage. We coordinate Xcel utility rebate paperwork on qualifying retrofits (pre-approval through post-install) so you actually receive the rebate. Most warehouse and 24/7 commercial LED retrofits pay for themselves in 2–4 years through utility savings + rebate.
LED retrofits on commercial facilities are one of the rare wins where the math works out clearly: lower wattage, longer fixture life, better light quality, and a utility rebate that shortens the payback to 2–4 years on most warehouse and 24-hour operations. The hard part isn’t the install — it’s filing the rebate paperwork correctly so the customer actually receives the check from Xcel 4–8 weeks after commissioning.
We do commercial lighting across the full scope: warehouse high-bays, office buildouts, retail track and accent, parking lot poles and wall packs, emergency egress, and exit signage. About 60% of our commercial lighting volume is LED retrofits on existing buildings; the other 40% is new lighting design on tenant finishes and ground-up commercial construction.
Do LED retrofits actually pay for themselves?
In most commercial facilities, yes — especially warehouses, parking lots, and 24/7 operations. The math depends on four variables:
- Current fixtures: older HID (high-intensity discharge) or fluorescent fixtures use 2–3× the wattage of equivalent LED. The wattage delta is the savings.
- Run hours: a 24/7 warehouse running fixtures 8,760 hours per year sees more savings than an 8-hour office.
- Local kWh rate: Xcel commercial rates in NoCo run roughly $0.09–$0.13/kWh — savings scale with this number.
- Active utility rebate: Xcel’s Business Solutions rebates currently pay $0.10–$0.50 per saved watt depending on fixture type. Co-op rebates (Poudre Valley REA, etc.) are similar.
| Facility type | Typical payback period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 warehouse with HID high-bays | 1.5–3 years | Best ROI category |
| 16-hour retail / restaurant | 2.5–4 years | Solid ROI |
| Parking lot LED pole replacement (HID → LED) | 3–5 years | Plus reduced maintenance cost |
| Office building 8-hour fluorescent → LED | 4–7 years | Smaller wattage delta, longer payback |
| Conference room / specialty rooms | 5–10 years | Often done for light-quality reasons, not ROI |
We run the numbers for your specific building before you commit. If the math doesn’t work in your case, we tell you straight — there’s no commission on a retrofit that doesn’t justify itself.
Do you handle the utility rebate paperwork?
Yes for most Xcel and local co-op rebate programs. The standard sequence:
- Pre-approval submission — we file a pre-approval application with Xcel showing the existing fixtures, the proposed LED replacements, and the calculated savings
- Pre-approval received — Xcel confirms the rebate amount they’ll pay (typically 4–8 weeks after submission)
- Old fixture documentation — before we remove any existing fixtures, we photograph and inventory them per Xcel’s requirements
- Install — new LED fixtures installed
- Post-install paperwork — we submit the post-installation report with photos of the installed fixtures
- Rebate paid — Xcel issues the rebate check 4–8 weeks after we submit the post-install paperwork
The rebate amount typically lands directly with the customer. We keep a copy of every form in case Xcel requests verification (which they sometimes do on larger retrofits).
We’ve handled rebate paperwork for hundreds of commercial retrofits across Northern Colorado. The common reason customers don’t receive a rebate they’re entitled to: they (or another contractor) skipped the pre-approval step. Once a fixture is removed without pre-approval documentation, the rebate is lost.
Can you do a full tenant finish lighting scope?
Yes. New commercial spaces usually need full lighting design and install — general lighting, accent lighting, task lighting, emergency egress, exit signs, and any specialty fixtures the space calls for (track lighting in retail, recessed cans in offices, pendant bars in restaurants, decorative sconces in lobbies).
Standard tenant finish lighting scope includes:
- General lighting: recessed cans, troffers, or pendant fixtures throughout the space
- Task lighting: under-cabinet in kitchens/break rooms, vanity in restrooms, desk lighting in offices
- Accent lighting: track lighting in retail, art display lighting, architectural cove lighting
- Emergency egress: code-required emergency lighting + exit signs (usually combo units)
- Exterior: wall packs, security floods, sign lighting, parking-area illumination
- Lighting controls: daylight sensors, occupancy/vacancy sensors, scene control, smart switches
- Code compliance: ADA-required mounting heights, NEC + IECC energy code, ASHRAE 90.1 lighting power densities
We work from the lighting designer’s plans on larger projects, or can lay out lighting in-house for smaller projects. We handle the controls layer too — Lutron, Wattstopper, and Crestron systems integrated into the lighting install.
How much does parking lot LED lighting cost?
Two common scenarios:
Replacing existing pole fixtures (no pole work):
| Fixture type | Cost per fixture installed |
|---|---|
| Standard parking lot LED replacement (HID → LED on existing pole) | $800–$1,200 |
| Premium LED with smart controls or higher lumens | $1,200–$1,800 |
| Wall pack LED replacement (HID → LED) | $400–$700 |
| Bollard light replacement | $500–$900 |
New poles and bases (excavation + concrete + conduit):
| Pole work scope | Cost per pole |
|---|---|
| New 20-25 ft pole on existing lot, dig + concrete + LED fixture | $4,500–$8,000 |
| New 30 ft+ pole | $6,500–$11,000 |
| Underground conduit run between poles | $40–$80 per linear foot |
Parking lot retrofits are some of the highest-ROI lighting projects we do because the fixtures run dusk-to-dawn (~12 hours/night = ~4,400 hours/year), the wattage delta from HID to LED is huge (often 70–85% reduction), and the utility rebates on parking lot LED are some of the strongest in the program.
Can you install or replace exit signs and emergency lights?
Yes. Emergency egress lighting and exit signs are code-required on virtually every commercial space:
- Exit signs: illuminated, battery-backed, mounted at every required egress point per IBC/IFC
- Emergency egress lighting: battery-backed lights along egress paths, illuminated within 10 seconds of power loss
- Combo units: integrated exit sign + emergency egress in one fixture (most common in modern installs)
- Battery-backed monitoring: test buttons + indicators showing battery health
- Annual testing: code requires monthly 30-second tests + annual 90-minute tests; we can include this in service contracts
Fire marshal inspections go smoother when emergency lighting is current and clearly working. We install new LED combo units on retrofits, replace failing units on existing facilities, and test batteries during any commercial service visit. For new tenant finishes, we plan the egress path with the GC and ensure every emergency unit lights the path within code.
For large retrofits across multi-tenant properties, we coordinate the test and inspection schedule with the facility manager so all units get checked at once.
Last reviewed by a Master Electrician: April 29, 2026.
Have a commercial lighting project — retrofit, tenant finish, or parking lot? Call (970) 645-3114 for a free walkthrough. We’ll measure the existing fixtures, run the rebate math, and put a written quote on paper that includes the projected payback period.
