Between its public-purpose-funded programs (including those directed at residential and low-income customers) and programs offered directly by utilities, New York budgeted roughly $440 million in 2009 to promote increased gas and electric energy efficiency in the state. This sum is expected to grow considerably over the next few years.
What public-purpose-funded energy efficiency programs are available in my state?
In 1998, as part of its restructuring, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) designated the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as the administrator of funding for energy efficiency and load management programs.
These programs are paid for through a System Benefits Charge (SBC) on the electricity transmitted and distributed by six of the state’s investor-owned utilities. In 2005, the PSC extended these programs through 2011.
Customers of ConEdison, Orange and Rockland Utilities, National Grid (formerly Niagara Mohawk), New York State Electric and Gas, Central Hudson Gas and Electric, and Rochester Gas and Electric are eligible for NYSERDA programs. Customers of Long Island Power Authority and New York Power Authority should refer to the section below on utility energy efficiency programs.
There are a number of NYSERDA’s commercial and industrial programs that may be of interest to federal customers. Several of these are profiled below.
- The Existing Facilities Program provides both pre-qualified and performance-based incentives. Pre-qualified incentives are tailored for smaller projects. Applicants can receive per-unit incentives of up to $30,000 per project for a variety of pre-qualified energy-efficiency and conservation measures, include lighting, HVAC, motors, and interval meters. Performance-based incentives are available for more involved projects that produce verifiable electricity or gas savings, or improve efficiency of industrial processes. These performance-based incentives are payments for one year’s worth of verifiable gas and electricity savings. Gas savings are incentivized at $40/Mcf (up to $25,000 or 50% of cost) for National Gas customers and $2/therm (up to $500,000 or 75% of cost) for ConEdison customers. Electric efficiency savings are compensated at $0.12/kWh upstate and $0.16/kWh in Con Edison territory. Energy storage is remunerated at $300/kW upstate and $600/kW for Con Ed customers. Performance-based incentives are also available for CHP equipment to offset a portion of the technology cost of participating in demand response programs.
- The New Construction Program provides:
- technical assistance in incorporating energy efficiency in building designs and evaluating potential efficiency opportunities,
- funding for the incremental cost difference between traditional and efficient equipment, and
- assistance for commissioning, peak load management, advanced solar, daylighting and other green building technologies.
Applicants may choose among custom measures, whole building incentives, or a “Green Building Option.”
- Through the Flexible Technical Assistance (FlexTech) program, financial support is offered on a cost-shared basis for feasibility studies, technical analysis of specific projects, rate analysis, aggregation studies, retro-commissioning, and other types of engineering analyses performed by a pre-qualified consultant.
- Customers with electricity bills of less than $75,000/year may be eligible for low-cost energy audits through the Energy Audit Program.
Another NYSERDA program potentially of interest is the Technical Assistance Program. This initiative is similar to FlexTech, but allows customers to work with a non-pre-qualified consultant. NYSERDA offers energy feasibility studies, rate analysis and aggregation studies, retrocommissioning, and long-term energy management, and will cost-share up to $1,000,000 in ConEd territory and $500,000 elsewhere.
