HomeIncentives by StateCalifornia
California's code requires lighting that answers the grid.
Buildings with 4,000 W or more of general lighting need controls that cut power at least 15% on a demand-response signal, and a state-certified technician tests them before occupancy. LADWP and Silicon Valley Power also pay toward networked controls. We design it, ship it ready to install and test it.
Code and programs as of October 2026. We confirm what applies to your building before you buy. Sources
Who pays here.
In California the money is local. PG&E, SCE and SDG&E no longer run rebates for commercial lighting or lighting controls. Two city utilities still pay for networked controls.
LADWP's Commercial Lighting Incentive Program covers Los Angeles customers with more than 200 kW of demand. It pays for networked systems on the DesignLights Consortium's list that can respond to demand-response signals and report energy use, and it approves the project before anything is bought. Silicon Valley Power in Santa Clara pays for networked and fixture-level controls. It reviews the design first and sets the rebate from four weeks of measured data after install.
Programs as of October 2026. Each utility sets its own terms.
Upgrading lighting anyway?
Title 24 asks a lot of lighting controls. General lighting in most rooms of 100 sq ft or more dims continuously down to 10%. Small offices, classrooms, conference rooms and restrooms shut off on occupancy sensors. Open offices dim zone by zone, and corridors, stairwells and garages step down when nobody's there. Daylight dimming starts at 75 W per zone. Buildings with 4,000 W or more of general lighting need controls that respond to the grid. Before occupancy, a state-certified technician tests it all.
Replace 10% or more of the fixtures in a room and these rules come with it. A controller in every fixture covers dimming, occupancy, daylight and demand response in one system.
See how a project runs- Demand response4,000 W or more of general lighting dims at least 15% on a demand-response signalCovered
- TestingA state-certified technician tests the controls before occupancyCovered
- GaragesDrop to 20-50% when a zone empties, 500 W or less per zoneCovered
Benchmarking and tune-ups.
California's benchmarking law covers buildings over 50,000 sq ft, with reports due June 1. Los Angeles goes further: buildings of 20,000 sq ft and up need an energy audit and retro-commissioning every five years, and the tune-up has to include indoor lighting and its controls. The next group is due December 1, 2026. San Francisco requires audits every five years, and San José asks buildings to meet a performance target or make improvements. There's no statewide performance standard yet.
Your building can be anywhere in the US.
We design remotely and ship the kit set up and labeled by room. A local electrician installs it, and we test on site or remotely.
Questions owners ask.
What does the demand-response rule need?
If a building has 4,000 W or more of general lighting covered by Title 24's dimming rule, the controls have to cut lighting power at least 15% automatically when a demand-response signal arrives. They use OpenADR, directly or through a control certified to the Energy Commission. The acceptance test checks the 15%. Healthcare facilities are exempt.
Who does the acceptance test?
A Certified Lighting Controls Acceptance Test Technician, working for a certified employer, tests the controls and signs the Certificate of Acceptance before the occupancy permit. We set up every device before it ships and test the system ourselves, and we hand over the settings so the acceptance test goes smoothly.
Does a lighting retrofit trigger Title 24?
Altering 10% or more of the fixtures in a room does, and rewiring counts. There are lighter options if you cut wattage well below the allowance, and one-for-one replacement of up to 50 fixtures per floor a year is exempt. Adding controls or swapping lamps and drivers doesn't trigger it.
Do PG&E, SCE or SDG&E pay for lighting controls?
Not through rebates, as of October 2026. PG&E and SCE do help pay for controls that automate demand response if you enroll in a demand-response program for several years. LADWP and Silicon Valley Power still pay for networked controls.
Does Los Angeles' EBEWE cover lighting?
Yes. Buildings of 20,000 sq ft and up need retro-commissioning every five years, and it has to include indoor lighting systems and controls. Buildings with IDs ending in 0 or 1 are due December 1, 2026.
Tell us about your building.
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Networked lighting controls, start to finish.