The Harlingen City Commission on Monday agreed to ask staff to return with a contract to move Schneider Electric’s preliminary audit into a detailed design and guaranteed‑savings proposal. The presentation covered energy and operations work across multiple city buildings and outdoor lighting, and Schneider’s representatives said a targeted scope of LED lighting and building automation “would help significantly reduce the utility cost by 23%.”

Why it matters: commissioners said the city has many aging facilities and rising utility costs, so a self‑funding energy project could free ongoing funds for other services. The commission directed staff to bring a formal agreement back for approval rather than committing construction dollars at the meeting.

Schneider Electric presented a two‑track approach: a smaller, roughly $3 million package focused on LED lighting and building controls that the firm said could pay for itself through energy savings, and a larger package that would add HVAC, roofing and other ‘‘building envelope’’ work with longer paybacks. Schneider account representative Aaron Garcia said the initial audit recommended LED and controls as the highest‑return scope and that work would likely qualify for AEP rebates.

Project engineer Ryan Wonder described the next phase as a staged design at 30/60/90% completeness and said the cost to move to that detailed design stage was $57,000. “When we get to the 90%,” Wonder said, “we’ll be back here to present the 90%…what the total cost is, what the guaranteed savings [are], how much would self‑fund itself.” Garcia added that if the city later accepts a construction contract, that $57,000 would be rolled into the overall project price rather than charged separately.

Public‑works director Christopher Torres and commissioners pressed for a comprehensive inventory. Torres said the presentation list targeted buildings that “have those needs that need to be addressed,” and commissioners asked the consultant to review all municipal facilities (including sports lighting, parks and emergency operations) during the design phase. Schneider confirmed sports‑field lighting was in scope if the city wants it included.

No construction contract was approved at the meeting. Instead, the commission instructed staff to draft a firm agreement for the design phase and return to the commission for formal approval on the contract and final scope, with commissioners suggesting a return to the agenda in late September or early October.

The measure’s next steps are a staff‑prepared contract for the design and guaranteed‑savings agreement, and a 30% design review to narrow the scope and expected payback before any construction appropriation. Ending: The commission’s direction lets the city pursue a self‑funding energy project while requiring a further, detailed proposal before construction funding is committed.