Enhanced SmartStart Buildings Incentives

Note: Select energy efficiency programs for existing buildings are transitioning to the utility companies

To learn more about this transition and for utility contact information, please visit this page.

NJCEP Pay for Performance (P4P) for existing buildings and NJCEP Direct Install will no longer accept applications starting July 1, 2021. All eligible applications accepted before that time will continue with NJCEP until final payment.

PSE&G customers who purchased electric or natural gas energy efficiency equipment prior to June 1, 2021 may be eligible for SmartStart Buildings (SSB) and/or Customer Tailored Energy Efficiency Program (CTEEP) rebates. For non-PSE&G customers, equipment purchased prior to July 1, 2021, may be eligible for SSB and CTEEP rebates.

For projects (single- or multi-measure) saving electricity and natural gas, aka “dual-fuel”, where gas or electric service, but not both, are provided by PSE&G should continue to apply to NJCEP’s SSB, CTEEP, and P4P existing buildings until the other utility programs launch.

NJCEP’s SmartStart Buildings (SSB), Customer Tailored Energy Efficiency Program (CTEEP), and Pay for Performance (P4P) programs will remain available for new construction projects and major gut renovation projects only beginning on July 1, 2021.

Existing buildings that meet at least one of the eligibility criteria listed in the table below may be eligible for an enhanced incentive. See details and eligibility requirements on the NJ SmartStart applications. (Neither Performance Lighting, Prescriptive Lighting, Lighting Controls, nor New Construction is eligible for Enhanced Incentives). All projects are subject to an incentive cap equal to the applicant’s cost for the project (material and labor).

Eligibility Basis	Criteria
Located in an Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ)	The building where equipment is or will be installed must be located within the bounds of an Urban Enterprise Zone. Please follow the steps below to confirm your facility is within the qualifying zone. The building location must be checked against the NJ Community Asset Map. 1. Enter the address of your building in the field at the top of the map. 2. Under the Layers menu on the left side of the screen, scroll down to Urban Enterprise Zones and check to enable the layer. 3. Print or save a screenshot of the page to include with your submission. For the avoidance of doubt, companies do not need to become a Certified UEZ Business to be eligible for enhanced incentives from NJCEP.
Located in an Opportunity Zone (OZ)	The building where equipment is or will be installed must be located within the bounds of an Opportunity Zone. Please follow the steps below to confirm your facility is within the qualifying zone. The building location must be checked against the NJ Community Asset Map. 1. Enter the address of your building in the field at the top of the map. 2. Under the Layers menu on the left side of the screen, scroll down to Opportunity Zones and check to enable the layer. 3. Print or save a screenshot of the page to include with your submission.
Affordable Housing	Any multifamily housing that an official document identifies as participating in a federal, state, or local affordable housing program. This includes, by way of example only, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs listing of Affordable Housing available here as well as official documents showing identification by the documents regarding New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, United States Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), and United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
Owned or Operated by a Municipal Entity	The building must be owned or operated by a Municipal Entity as evidenced by the name listed on the utility bill(s) for the building. If the name as shown on the utility bill(s) does not clearly delineate a Municipal Entity, other documentation may be accepted to demonstrate ownership on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Program Manager for specific guidance. The Municipal Entity name must be recognized on the New Jersey Municipalities Search tool available at: https://www.nj.gov/nj/gov/direct/municipality.html.
Owned or Operated by a County Entity	The building must be owned or operated by a County Entity as evidenced by the name listed on the utility bill(s) for the building. If the name as shown on the utility bill(s) does not clearly delineate a County Entity, other documentation may be accepted to demonstrate ownership on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Program Manager for specific guidance. Enhanced incentives for Counties apply to: Buildings owned or operated by one of the counties listed here. This includes, among other things, buildings owned or operated by any “community college” listed here and authorities and commissions listed here.
Owned or Operated by a K-12 Public School	The building must be owned or operated by a K-12 Public School as evidenced by the name listed on the utility bill(s) for the building. If the name as shown on the utility bill(s) do not clearly delineate a K-12 Public School, other documentation may be accepted to demonstrate ownership on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the Program Manager for specific guidance. The K-12 Public School name must be recognized on the New Jersey School Directory available at: https://homeroom5.doe.state.nj.us/directory/pub.php.

Contact us

For More Information

Join Our Listserv