Bay City Electric Light & Power, with their Energy Smart Program, is dedicated to a portfolio of energy efficient programs designed to assist residential and business electric customers in reducing their energy usage.

The Energy Smart program is funded through a surcharge on monthly utility bills which is required by law. Funds from the surcharge are used to provide energy saving programs to benefit all customers. Program measures should reduce participant’s energy usage considerably and help customers to control their monthly electric bills.

Program applications for Residential customers can be found here.

Program applications for Commercial & Industrial customers can be found on the Franklin Energy website -Energy Smart Bay City

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Promotional Items
Light Bulb Comparison
Summer Bill Insert with Annual Report
Fall/Winter Bill Insert
Energy Use Monitors

Residential Programs 2013

Earth Day

ON April 20, 2013, for Bay City's Annual Earth Day Celebration, the Electric Department provided residential utility customers 6 FREE compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) and 2 FREE LED nightlights. Thsese items will help customers reduce their energy consumption. For the Electric Department's Tree Power Program, customers also received a yellow birch tree seedling. In total, 2,244 CFLs, 378 LED nightlights, and 500 tree seedlings were provided to customers. Additionally, $15 rebates were offered for the 35 inefficient dehumidifiers and room air conditioners that were recycled through the Electric Department's Appliance Recycling program.

Efficient Lighting

FREE Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs)

Compact fluorescent light bulbs are one of the simplest and highest money-saving items that someone can implement into their home. This is because CFLs use up to 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs. They also last up to 10x longer! In money terms, this can save you up to $30 per bulbs replaced, yearly.

As a Bay City Electric Light & Power customer, you can receive 6 free CFLs in 2013. To pick up your free CFLs, come to Bay City Electric Light & Power's office at 900 South Water Street.

Are you curious about what type of light bulbs to buy? Click here to see our latest light bulb comparison.

In 2012, Bay City Electric gave away 14,470 CFLs to residential customers, which equals 564,330 kWh of savings.

CFL Recycling

Did you know...? CFL bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury, but they can be safely recycled. Our offices are a recycling site for small CFL bulbs. Drop off your spent, unbroken bulbs to 900 S. Water Street.

There are three other businesses in Bay City that offer CFL bulb recycling, and they are   

• Unclaimed Freight ACE Hardware 706 E. Midland Street 48706
• Woodside ACE Hardware 86 Woodside Ave 48732
• Home Depot 3860 State Street 48706

Appliance Recycling

Starting in 2013, the Energy Smart program will be using We Recycling for our Appliance Recycling program. Pickups will be on the 2nd Saturday of every month. To schedule an appointment, contact the Energy Smart team at Bay City Electric via phone, (989) 894-8350, or email, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . We Recycling will contact you prior to your pickup time to verify the appointment. The deadline to schedule a pickup will be the Friday one week prior to the Saturday pickup (See March, 2013 example below).

Refrigerator & Freezer Recycling

Looking for energy savings? Look no further than your old refrigerator or freezer! Your old refrigerator or freezer! Your old refrigerator or freezer can use up to 3x as much as a newer model. That can add up to an extra $150 a  year on your bill.
 Recycle your old refrigerator or freezer and receive a $60* rebate in return! Call Bay City Electric's Energy Smart program at (989) 894-8350 or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule an appointment.

*Customers who received a refrigerator through our income eligible program are eligible for a $30 rebate.

 *Customers are allowed to recycle up to two appliances per year through this program.

Room Air Conditioner & Dehumidifier Recycling

Do you have an old dehumidifier or room air conditioner sitting around your residence? At the Mayor’s Annual Clean-Up Day, which is April 20, 2013, Bay City Electric offers recycling for your old, inefficient room air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Bay City Electric customers can receive a $15 rebate when they recycle their operable room air conditioner or dehumidifier. So hold on to that inefficient energy-hog and recycle it on Mayor’s Clean-Up Day!

Efficient Appliance & HVAC     

Did you recently purchase an Energy Star or another energy efficient appliance? You may qualify for a rebate for being Energy Smart! See the graph below to check your eligibility for this program. Applications are available at Bay City Electric's office at 900 S. Water Street; or, click here to download a printable application.

*Customers can only receive incentives in the year the appliance is purchased and installed. We cannot give rebates for an appliance installed in the previous year.

Education

Energy Smart ACTion Scholarship – 2013
STUDENTS! Are you looking for some help paying for your college education? The Energy Smart program is offering two $1,000 scholarships to Bay City Electric customers.

To be entered into the scholarship, students must film an original video that builds awareness on energy-wasting habits and promotes electrical energy-saving alternatives. Visit our Facebook page to watch the winning videos from our last competition.

Click here to print off an application, or pick one up at 900 S. Water Street. To qualify for the scholarship, students must have a permanent address in the Bay City Electric Light & Power service area. Also, students must be a senior in high school or currently attending college.

Electric Hot Water Heater Kits

Customers with electric hot water heaters are eligible for a free energy saving kit. Kits can be picked up at the Electric Department, located at 900 South Water Street. Each kit includes: 1 low-flow shower head, 3 faucet aerators (1 swivel head), 2 rolls of pipe wrap, and 5 CFLs.

Home Energy

Bay City Electric Light & Power is offering an incentive to home builders and home buyers of Energy Star Rated Homes. To earn the Energy Star rating, new homes go through an inspection process by an independent rater. For more information on the Home Energy program, visit www.energystar.gov/newhomes and click on "Learn How to Earn the ENERGY STAR." To download an application, click here . This year, we will be giving away 6 rebates to Energy Star home builders or buyers.

Income Eligible Program – 2013  

Free refrigerators and air conditioners are available to eligible utility customers. BCELP, along with the United Way of Bay County, is providing a limited number of free ENERGY STAR® rated refrigerators and room air conditioners. Applicants must qualify through United Way and meet the program requirements, including the limited income condition. Customers are considered limited income for this program if they have an income 200% or less of the poverty level, according to the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Call the United Way at (989) 893-7508 ext*12 for more information or to apply.

Commercial & Industrial Programs (C&I) – 2013

Prescriptive & Custom Projects

Bay City Electric Light & Power's C&I customers can receive rebates for implementing energy efficient measures. Interested businesses can contact Franklin Energy at (877) 674-7281, or visit www.mienergysmart.com, for program information and applications.

*You must receive approval before beginning your energy efficiency project to ensure that funding is available. Incentives are capped at $20,000 per customer.

Small Business Direct Install

Bay City Electric Light & Power small business customers are eligible to receive energy efficient appliances installed for FREE. For more information, please contact Franklin Energy at (877) 674-7281.

Trade Allies

Bay City Electric Light & Power is working with vendors, contractors, and other businesses that have been educated on energy efficiency and our Energy Smart program to provide our customers with the best service possible. If your business is interested in participating, please fill out the Trade Ally Participation Application to become a trade ally for the Bay City Energy Smart program. Trade ally contact information will be posted on this website and participants will get the latest information on changes to the program and future education opportunities.

To apply to become a trade ally, please use the follow application - Trade Ally Participation Application

This is a comprehensive list of all entities that have been working with Bay City Electric, Light & Power. All allies have been informed of the programs that are currently being offered - Current Trade Allies

Contact Information

Bay City Electric Light & Power
Phone: (989) 894-8350
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.baycitymi.org/departments/electric-department
Facebook: www.facebook.com/baycityelectric
Twitter: www.twitter.com/baycityelectric

Franklin Energy
Phone: (877) 674-7281
Website: www.mienergysmart.com

United Way – Bay County
Phone: (989) 893-7508 ext* 12

Important Links

Energy Star
Energy Star: Kids
Energy Star: Assess Your Home
Energy Star: Portfolio Manager

Residential
Residential Incentives Application – 2013
Energy Smart in ACTion Video Scholarship Contest - 2013

Income Eligible
Federal Poverty Guidelines

Commercial & Industrial
Energy Smart Applications