HOW WE HELPED DEERBOINE COLONY SHINE BRIGHTER WHILE CUTTING EXPENSES
THE PROJECT
Mike Waldner, a construction electrician and member of Deerboine Colony, came to us with plans to upgrade the lighting in several key workspaces in the community. Mike purchased the lighting materials from EECOL Electric, who also submitted the program applications on behalf of the colony. He then upgraded to LED lighting in the colony’s welding shop, mechanics room, dry storage and processing area, greenhouse, hog barn, and various exterior pathways and loading zones.
With so many installations to plan and execute across three separate projects, Mike appreciated the ease and flexibility of our Business Lighting Program.
“Making minor changes was so easy after the fact. I really appreciate that I had a full year to complete the lighting upgrade.”
— Mike Waldner, construction electrician and member of Deerboine Colony
THE SAVINGS
Because of their lighting upgrades, Deerboine Colony is expected to save over 91,000 kWh of electricity each year. This translates to nearly $4,600 in annual savings on their energy bills. We also provided them with an incentive of $23,880 for their upgrades, which includes customer bonuses across multiple project phases. With these energy savings and incentives combined, their payback period will be less than four years.
In addition to the financial benefits, Mike noted that the long lifespan of their new energy-efficient lighting makes the program “a win-win.”
THE PROCESS
EECOL Electric submitted the first application for this project in 2023. Mike received approval within two weeks, completed the installation in March 2024, and received payment shortly afterward.
In November 2024, EECOL Electric submitted two more applications, both of which we approved the very next day. Mike completed the second phase of the project later in December, with payment arriving in January 2025. He wrapped up the final phase of the project in March 2025, and we sent the final incentive the next month.
ARE YOU A BUSINESS OWNER?
Business owners or contractors can apply for financial incentives through the Business Lighting Program. We’ve even increased our current incentives by 50% for applications completed before March 31, 2026. Check out our program guide for more details on our incentive rates and eligibility requirements.
ARE YOU A SUPPLIER OR CONTRACTOR?
If you’re a supplier or contractor, we encourage you to join our supplier network. You’ll be listed on our website as a registered Efficiency Manitoba supplier and can offer our programs to your customers. You’ll also have access to training opportunities and materials offered by our team of experts, and you can promote our energy efficiency programs in your advertising. The best part? It’s free to register and participate!
