UniSource has long offered discounts at retail stores to make it easy and inexpensive for residents to switch to energy-efficient lighting.

Now, the same benefit is being offered to local businesses, government institutions, schools, organizations and contractors. These commercial customers can pick up discounted LED bulbs and approved lights at partnering stores.

Our new Fast Checkout program helps participants realize upfront savings on lighting projects that also produce long-term savings on their energy bills. The discounted products are available to commercial customers from participating stores in Kingman, Lake Havasu City and Nogales.

“We’re able to help more of our commercial customers accomplish their own energy saving goals with this program, while also stimulating the local economy by utilizing local businesses,” said Jessica Berry, Supervisor of Energy Programs for UniSource.

Previously, commercial customers could only claim discounts after paying upfront for the full cost of the lighting. Now, businesses or contractors can get instant up-front savings of up to 75 percent on their lighting upgrades.

“It’s been fantastic. We started having success immediately,” said Dennis Oberg of Independent Electric Supply in Kingman. “Customers look at it as an immediate return-on-investment benefit. Their out-of-pocket expense is less. Once they were able to see how smoothly it worked, it really started opening up opportunities.”

ENERGY STAR-qualified LEDs use up to 90 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer. They also generate about 90 percent less heat, so they’re safer to operate and can help reduce cooling costs.

Some of the customers who have taken advantage of Fast Checkout include large manufacturers, municipalities, offices, law-enforcement agencies and schools.

With the new LEDs, customers experienced substantial reductions in power use – sometimes more than 70 percent. Not only do the LEDs use less energy, but they also emit less heat, keeping facilities cooler and reducing the strain on air conditioning.

Plus, it has improved the workplace conditions – by reducing noise and improving visibility and safety for employees, especially at large manufacturing warehouses and plants.

“The older lights were humming so loudly that they could hardly have a conversation in room,” Oberg said. “Some of the companies noticed fewer sick days. The impact that we’re seeing in the facilities, even on a psychological level, is huge.”

Like commercial customers, residential customers can easily get discounts on LED bulbs at participating retailers through our ENERGY STAR lighting program.

Retailers include Lowe’s, The Home Depot and Walmart, which sell a variety of shapes, sizes and brightness (lumens) for home use. Search for locations.

Stores participating in our Fast Checkout program include:

• Nogales: Crescent Electric Supply branch, 1230 N. Industrial Park Ave.
• Lake Havasu City: Independent Electric Supply branch, 1811 Industrial Blvd.
• Kingman: Independent Electric Supply branch, 2366 Kingman Ave.

Learn more about our programs for commercial customers.

Find more information about the Fast Checkout offerings and how to participate.