Imagine if your utility provider helped you go green, illuminate your home and save tons of cash by giving you free LED bulbs.

But why, you might ask, would utility providers consider giving LEDs away for free? Well, perhaps counterintuitively, the move could save the industry a small fortune.

Alan Salzman, cofounder of Vantage Point Venture Partners, told Green Tech Media that buying and donating LEDs would be more cost-effective for a utility than expanding its services to meet growing needs.

The source theorizes that a utility company could buy and donate 10 million LED bulbs for $200 million dollars - a fair estimate as major companies (including GE, Sylvania, Philips, and Bridgelux) want to reduce the cost of LEDs to around $20 within a couple years. Companies that buy in bulk from online suppliers would likely find further price reductions.

Green Tech Media says the distribution of these LED bulbs would take about 500 megawatts worth of capacity off energy lines. This would reduce the need for utilities to construct multibillion dollar coal plants.

Salzman told the source he thinks this could be a feasible option because "it makes economic sense."

Utility companies may want to get their wallets out now to save billions down the road, and consumers could soon find free, energy-saving light bulbs coming their way. The future sure sounds bright.