Denton residents claimed nearly three times as many electric bicycle rebates in the 2025-26 budget year as the year before, according to a staff summary prepared for the city's Sustainability Framework Advisory Committee.
The city paid 297 e-bike rebates worth $167,512, up from 101 rebates worth $61,485 in 2024-25. Electric vehicle rebates rose from 98 to 143, at $1,000 apiece in both years by the totals shown. Rebates for electric lawn equipment climbed from 482 to 930, for $115,474 in all.
Mowers made up 309 of those lawn rebates. The city adds $50 for residents who get rid of their old gas mower through curbside pickup or the Home Chemical Collection site, and 54 people did, about 17%.
The committee takes up the numbers at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the Council Work Session Room at City Hall, 215 E. McKinney St.
Efficiency money ran out in August
A separate report covers GreenSense, the energy efficiency program Denton Municipal Electric has funded since 2009. Only DME customers qualify. Staff wrote that this year's money was fully committed by Aug. 19.
The program awarded 872 rebates. Heating and air conditioning systems led with 387, at an average project cost of $13,629 and an average rebate of $1,989. Window replacements drew 65 rebates and insulation 37.
Staff estimate the upgrades cut about 1.45 million kilowatt hours of use in their first year, which the report puts at roughly 829 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, 16% more than the year before. Eighty percent of applications came from houses built in 2009 or before.
Less money than the plan
The City Council unanimously approved a 2026-27 work plan for the Sustainability Framework Fund on Sept. 22 with a $1.1 million planning estimate, but staff say about $655,000 is available.
The programs moving ahead are the EV, e-bike and electric lawn equipment rebates at $125,000 each; a $25,000 e-bike voucher pilot aimed at low-income residents, which is new; $235,000 for energy efficiency upgrades and minor home repair; and $20,000 for air quality sensor data and upkeep.
