Small-Business Lighting Playbook for Washington County, UT (2025)

How St. George shops, gyms, salons, warehouses—and every office in between—can cut bills, brighten spaces, and tap local incentives.

Who this guide is for

Independent retailers on Bluff Street, salons and med spas in Washington Fields, restaurants near Red Cliffs, fitness studios in Hurricane, offices in Ivins/Santa Clara, and warehouses along I-15 that are still running fluorescent or mixed lighting.

TL;DR (what owners care about)

• Lower monthly bills and fewer bulb changes with a modern LED + controls package.

• Better color and brightness = merch looks truer, spaces feel safer, staff stays alert.

• Local incentives can offset a large portion of upgrade costs if you’re on the right utility plan (details below). We handle the paperwork. rockymountainpower.net+1

Step 1: Decide your lighting outcome (not just the fixture)

Most “lighting projects” fail because they start with products instead of goals. Pick your target first:

1. Sales & mood: Retail and dining need high CRI (color quality) and layered light.

2. Productivity & safety: Offices and warehouses need glare control, consistent foot-candles, and aisle-by-aisle uniformity.

3. Energy reduction: Back-of-house, storage, corridors = maximum savings with occupancy + daylight controls.

Pro move: Walk the space at opening and close. Note dark corners, hot spots, and fixtures you’re constantly replacing. That list becomes your scope.

Step 2: Choose the upgrade path that fits your space (and budget)

A) One-for-one LED swaps

Fastest, least disruptive. You replace each existing lamp/fixture with an LED equivalent.

• Good for: Small shops, studios, professional suites.

• Add-ons that pay back: Dimming in client-facing rooms, occupancy sensors in storage and restrooms.

• Typical result: 30–60% energy reduction plus better light quality.

B) Retrofit kits (keep the housing)

We retain housings/troffers and install LED retrofit kits.

• Good for: Offices with grid ceilings, spaces where you want a cleaner look without full replacement.

• Upside: Lower waste, modern aesthetic, simple maintenance.

C) Full redesign (best results)

We re-space fixtures, add layers (ambient + accent + task), and integrate controls.

• Good for: Showrooms, galleries, restaurants, gyms.

• Upside: Highest impact on sales experience and long-term operating cost.

Step 3: Controls—where the real savings live

Lighting controls often deliver the quickest ROI and are required for many incentive programs.

• Occupancy/vacancy sensors: Auto-off in low-traffic zones.

• Daylight harvesting: Front windows and skylit areas dim automatically.

• Scheduling & scenes: Restaurants and studios shift from daytime bright to evening warm at the touch of a button.

• Cloud dashboards: Chain locations can monitor runtime, outages, and settings from one screen.

Step 4: Utah incentive landscape—what businesses should check first

Washington County has a mix of utilities. Your incentive path depends on who powers your meter:

• Rocky Mountain Power (Wattsmart Business): Utah’s Wattsmart® program offers cash incentives for common upgrades—especially lighting—and announced program updates effective July 11, 2025. Many small/medium business lighting projects can qualify under streamlined tracks. rockymountainpower.net+2rockymountainpower.net+2

• Municipal & co-op customers (Dixie Power, Washington City, St. George Energy Services): Programs vary. Dixie Power posts select rebates (e.g., smart thermostats, EV, construction/service upgrades) and forms; business-lighting offers can be seasonal or handled case-by-case. Washington City participates in UAMPS, which has efficiency incentives; St. George lists conservation resources and links. We verify eligibility for your specific meter before we spec gear. sgcityutah.gov+3Dixie Power+3Dixie Power+3

Why this matters: If you’re on an eligible utility program, incentives can substantially reduce project cost. We confirm your utility, pre-qualify the scope, and file paperwork so you don’t have to.

Step 5: A simple, owner-friendly process

1. 15-minute phone discovery: Your goals, hours of operation, pain points, photos of current fixtures.

2. On-site walk-through & light-level check: We map existing foot-candles, note glare, and identify maintenance drains.

3. Utility pre-qualification: We verify your service territory and match the project to active incentive tracks. rockymountainpower.net

4. Two pathways proposal:

   • Max-impact design: Highest visual upgrade + strongest savings.

   • Budget-first design: Keeps more existing locations/fixtures; focuses on quick wins.

5. Pilot area first: Upgrade a 200–500 sq ft test zone to validate look and brightness.

6. Clean install, off-hours if needed: We keep you open for business.

7. Commissioning + controls training: Scenes, schedules, sensor tuning.

8. Paperwork + closeout: Incentive submittals, as-builts, warranty packet.

What small businesses usually ask us to fix

• “The back half of the store is dim.” → Re-spacing + higher efficacy fixtures; add aisle optics.

• “Colors look off.” → Higher CRI, consistent CCT (no more mixed color temps).

• “Gym glare.” → UGR-controlled fixtures and indirect lighting over free-weight zones.

• “High ceilings, constant lifts.” → Long-life high-bays with plug-and-play drivers and remote controls.

• “Bathrooms & storage lights left on.” → Vacancy sensors + timed shutoff.

• “Security lighting too harsh.” → Warmer CCT with shielded optics and motion-based boost.

Local spec tips that make a difference in Southern Utah

• Heat matters: Select drivers and fixtures rated for higher ambient temperatures common in warehouses and garages here.

• Dust & insects: Choose sealed, easy-wipe lenses for back-of-house and roll-up door areas.

• Color consistency: Lock a single CCT across customer-facing rooms to avoid patchwork vibes in photos.

• Exterior cut-off optics: Reduce spill into neighboring properties while keeping lots bright and safe.

Ballpark paybacks (how to think about ROI without the jargon)

We size ROI using three inputs you already know: hours of operation, current fixture count, and utility rate. Add controls savings (auto-off/daylight) and maintenance avoided (no more frequent lamp/ballast swaps). If incentives apply, your out-of-pocket drops further—sometimes enough to green-light a pilot this quarter and roll the rest next quarter. rockymountainpower.net

Case-style scenarios (so you can picture the result)

• Boutique fitness studio, St. George: Replace mixed fluorescent/LED cans with controlled LED troffers + dimmable accents; scenes for classes, cleaning, and events. Result: brighter workouts, calmer evenings, lower demand spikes.

• Neighborhood retailer, Santa Clara: One-for-one LED swaps on sales floor + new linear accents for end caps; vacancy sensors in stockroom. Result: truer color on apparel, fewer returns, lower bills.

• Warehouse, Hurricane: High-bay LEDs with aisle optics and occupancy zoning; exterior wall packs with cut-off optics. Result: safer forklifts, fewer shadows, compliant egress.

Incentives & funding—quick references

• Wattsmart® Business (Rocky Mountain Power, Utah): Cash incentives for lighting and controls; program changes posted in 2025. rockymountainpower.net+1

• Municipal/Co-op (Dixie Power, Washington City, St. George): Rebate menus vary; we verify current offerings and submit forms on your behalf. sgcityutah.gov+3Dixie Power+3Dixie Power+3

Why hire High Output Electric for this (vs. a web retailer)

• Local, code-savvy design: We don’t just ship boxes—we design to local codes and your use-case.

• Paperwork handled: Pre-qualification, applications, and closeout docs done for you. rockymountainpower.net

• Clean installs around your hours: Night or off-day work so the register keeps ringing.

• One call for service: Warranty support, tweaks to scenes, extra fixtures when you expand.

Next steps (two easy options)

• Book a free 15-minute lighting audit call. We’ll ask for a few photos and your hours—enough to price a pilot zone.

• Or schedule an on-site walk-through. We’ll measure light levels, confirm your utility, and map savings + incentives.

FAQ

Do I have to shut down during the upgrade?

Usually no. We stage lifts and work off-hours or section by section.

What if I’m not on Rocky Mountain Power?

No problem. Washington County has multiple utilities. We confirm your provider (Dixie Power, Washington City, St. George Energy Services, or Rocky Mountain Power) and match the project to active programs—or build a high-ROI plan even without rebates. Dixie Power+2washingtonutah.gov+2

Will the light be too “blue” or harsh?

We spec color temperature and CRI for your brand, with test fixtures before you commit.

Can I do this in phases?

Yes. Many owners start with sales floor and restrooms (fastest wins), then back-of-house.