JCP&L Energy Solutions for Business Programs FAQs

Program Overview

Upgrading energy efficient equipment can be a significant investment, especially with a business’s day-to-day costs. This program helps by offering financial incentives to reduce your upfront costs, improve your return on investment, and lower your energy bills over time. Using more efficient equipment allows for less energy consumption and fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Solutions for Business includes a variety of programs designed to fit your business’s unique energy-saving goals:

  • Prescriptive
  • Custom
  • Midstream (Instant Discount)
  • Retrocommissioning (RCx)
  • Retrocommissioning-Lite (RCx-Lite)
  • Virtual Commissioning (VCx) and Virtual Strategic Energy Management (VSEM)
  • Strategic Energy Management (SEM)
  • Engineered Solutions Tier I
  • Engineered Solutions Tier II

The program is active from January 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027.

To qualify for incentives, equipment must be purchased and installed within this timeframe, after receiving a formal offer letter from the Program Administrator.

This program offers financial incentives to help cover the cost of purchasing and installing energy-efficient electric equipment. It includes a wide range of pre-qualified “standard” measures, each with a fixed, per-unit incentive amount.

To participate, applicants must submit project details for approval. Incentives are paid after the project is completed and verified.

This program provides incentives for energy efficiency projects that save electric and/or gas energy (dual-fuel) and are not covered under the Prescriptive Program. It’s ideal for more complex or unique projects that require a tailored approach.

Applicants must submit project details for approval before starting. Incentives are based on the energy savings achieved and are issued after the project is completed and verified.

This program offers instant discounts on pre-qualified lighting and HVAC equipment at participating distributors. These discounts are applied directly at the point of sale, making it easier for contractors and customers to access energy-efficient equipment at a lower cost, without needing to pay the full price upfront.

Equipment categories eligible for Instant Discounts may also be submitted through the Prescriptive Program if the total incentive amount is between $7,500 and $100,000. This submission option is available through June 30, 2025.

RCx is a step-by-step process that helps improve the efficiency of your building’s existing energy systems. It begins with a detailed energy assessment to find ways to optimize mechanical, lighting, and control systems.

Over time, building systems can become less efficient. RCx works to restore them to their original—or even better—performance by correcting issues and adjusting operations based on how the building is currently used. By fine-tuning your facility’s systems, RCx can reduce energy waste, lower energy costs, and improve overall efficiency, without needing major equipment upgrades.

The program is delivered through a network of approved RCx Program Allies, who help guide you. Incentives are available to help offset the cost of RCx activities, including site investigation, implementation, and measurement & verification (M&V).

The program is intended for small- to medium-sized buildings with simpler systems. It offers a streamlined process for identifying energy-saving opportunities and receiving incentives more quickly than the standard RCx pathway.

Projects are completed through approved RCx-Lite Program Allies, who assist with implementation. Once a project is approved, incentives are provided based on estimated energy savings calculated using TRC’s RCx-Lite Assessment Tool.

This program uses data-driven, virtual tools to help small and medium businesses improve energy efficiency without significant upgrades. VCx focuses on identifying no-cost operational improvements, while VSEM expands on this by adding long-term energy planning, organizational engagement, and performance tracking, delivering deeper, sustained savings.

This program is designed to help large commercial and industrial facilities reduce energy use and improve performance through the long-term management of major energy systems.

SEM takes a holistic approach, focusing on operational improvements, employee engagement, and ongoing performance tracking to achieve lasting energy savings.

You’ll receive expert support through the program to create and implement a customized SEM Action Plan. This includes system monitoring, staff training, energy benchmarking, and project planning—delivered by trusted, program-qualified SEM Program Allies.

Incentives are based on verified energy savings, helping lower energy costs and boost overall facility efficiency.

This program helps large commercial and industrial customers complete comprehensive energy efficiency projects with support from expert engineers. Services include energy audits, design, bid support, construction oversight, commissioning, and measurement and verification.

Customers can receive incentives that reduce project payback periods to as low as three years (up to a 6-year buy-down) and funding to cover audit and engineering service costs.

This program helps large commercial and industrial customers complete multi-measure energy efficiency projects.

You can receive enhanced incentives covering up to 60% of total project costs, including services like energy audits, design support, commissioning, and measurement & verification. Bundling measures help maximize savings and long-term performance.

Please see the FirstEnergy website at energysaveNJ.com.

Program Participation and Eligibility

Your project may be eligible if you’re a JCP&L customer on a commercial rate class. To confirm, check your electric bill and make sure your rate class is not one of the following:

  • Residential Service (RS)
  • Residential Time-of-Day Service (RST)
  • Residential Geothermal & Heat Pump Service (RGT)

This program is available to all commercial and industrial buildings of any size.

This program is available to all commercial and industrial buildings, regardless of size, with 25,000 kWh in the first year of savings.

This program is available to all commercial and industrial buildings, regardless of size. Projects must involve small maintenance lighting or HVAC systems.

Your RCx Program Ally will guide you through the process and help determine eligibility. Eligibility requirements include:

  • The customer must be a commercial or industrial building within the JCP&L territory
  • The building must have a minimum peak demand of 300 kW
  • The building floor area must exceed 100,000 square feet (exceptions may apply)
  • The first-year project savings must exceed 200,000 kWh
  • The facility is not a new construction building and must not have been commissioned in the last 3 years
  • The project should have potential for significant energy savings, with the agreement that the customer will implement all upgrades identified during the investigation that have a 2-year payback or less
  • The customer must use an approved RCx Program Ally

Your RCx-lite Program Ally will guide you through the process and help determine eligibility. Eligibility requirements include:

  • The customer must be a commercial or industrial building within the JCP&L territory
  • The building must have a maximum peak demand of 300 kW (exceptions may apply)
  • The first-year project savings must exceed 25,000 kWh
  • The facility is not a new construction building and must not have been commissioned in the last 3 years
  • The project should have potential for significant energy savings, with the agreement that the customer will implement all upgrades identified during the investigation that have a 2-year payback or less
  • The customer must use an RCx-Lite Program Ally

This program is available to all commercial and industrial customers, of any building size.

Your SEM Program Ally will guide you through the process and help determine eligibility. Eligibility requirements include:

  • The customer must be a commercial or industrial building within the JCP&L territory
  • The building must have a minimum peak demand of 500 kW (exceptions may apply)
  • The first-year project savings must exceed 200,000 kWh
  • Commitment from executive leadership to make employees and resources available to prioritize energy efficiency.
  • The customer must use an approved SEM Program Ally

Your Program Ally will guide you through the process and help determine eligibility. Eligibility requirements include:

  • All MUSH (municipal, university, school, and hospital) customers
  • Commercial, Industrial, Multifamily, and Non-Profit customers located in underserved areas (OBC, UEZ, OZ)
  • Eligible customers must have a minimum peak demand of 300 kW. Exceptions may apply for customers with multiple buildings as part of a campus, portfolio, or multifamily customers.
  • The first-year project savings must exceed 500,000 kWh
  • At least two electric energy efficiency measures
  • The customer must use an approved program ally
  • All projects must pass the NJ Benefit Cost Test

Customers may choose a JCP&L qualified Program Ally or their consultant to guide the process.

Eligibility requirements include:

  • The customer must be a commercial or industrial building (including MUSH, non-profit, and all C&I) within the JCP&L territory
  • Eligible customers must have a minimum peak demand of 300 kW. Exceptions may apply for customers with multiple buildings as part of a campus, portfolio, or multifamily customers.
  • The first-year project savings should exceed 200,000 kWh
  • At least two electric energy efficiency measures (including one non-lighting measure)

No, a Tax Clearance Certificate is not required.

Applying To Programs

Prescriptive and Custom applications need to be submitted via the online portal application.

An application is not required for Instant Discount incentives. The discount is applied at the point of purchase at a participating distributor location. Participants may purchase and install equipment themselves or use a contractor who will work with a participating distributor to obtain the instant discount.

Step 1: Call or visit a participating distributor and provide the following information:

  • JCP&L account number
  • Name and address of the business where the products will be installed
  • Customer contact name and phone number

Once information is validated and equipment eligibility is confirmed, the discount will automatically apply to the purchase price. 

Find a Distributor

Step 2: Qualified products and equipment must be installed within 30 days of purchase. If installation is delayed, it must still be completed within 60 days. JCP&L and/or its program administrators reserve the right to verify that the equipment was installed, and that the participant received the instant discount at purchase.

RCx, RCx-Lite, VCx & VSEM, SEM, Engineered Solutions Tier I, and Engineered Solutions Tier II program applications will be submitted via a PDF application until further notice.

All programs require pre-approval of applications and should be submitted before purchasing and installing any equipment or upgrades. Projects are subject to pre-inspections before work.

Some exceptions may apply for Prescriptive projects (see below).

Lookback Policy:

For Prescriptive projects, a 90-day lookback period applies. This means equipment may be purchased and installed up to 90 days before the application is submitted, as long as it falls within the overall program timeline.

We recommend prescriptive projects receive pre-approval before purchasing equipment. However, if your equipment was purchased and the project was completed, and you did not obtain pre-approval, you may apply for incentives no later than 90 days after project completion. (Completion is defined as all equipment being installed and operable.)

All other project types are not eligible for the lookback policy.

Prescriptive lighting and lighting controls can be included in the same application. All other prescriptive energy efficiency measures must be submitted on separate applications, even if they are part of a larger project or scope of work.

You will receive an offer package from your JCP&L Program team that indicates the project has been reviewed and the incentive and savings have been confirmed. The package will also include the following steps, so you know what to expect as your project progresses toward payment.

Please contact a program representative for assistance with measures not included on the Prescriptive Incentive List. The measure may be considered eligible for an incentive through the Custom program.

No, applications must be signed by the customer.

Incentives and Financing

Your project offer package will contain instructions on the next steps, including the documentation required for project verification and payment. Specific projects will undergo inspection before payment.

The Custom Program has a $4 million per entity per fiscal year cap. The program may revise these caps with or without notice and reserves the right to approve or deny projects based on available funds.

All other programs do not have a cap.

Yes, the customer can assign either the full incentive or part of the incentive to another entity.

Yes, financing is available for commercial energy efficiency projects through the National Energy Improvement Fund (NEIF). Qualifying improvements receive 0% financing for up to 60 months.

Visit www.neifund.org, email commercialfinance@neifund.org, or call (484) 284-3395 x. 219.

Step 1: Use the Find a Contractor tool to locate a NEIF-approved contractor, or work with your program-specific approved Program Ally to guide you.

Step 2: Apply online through NEIF and receive approval notification typically within 2-3 business days.

Step 3: Sign closing documents and work with your contractor to schedule the installation.

Equipment And Inspections

No, this type of replacement is not eligible for incentives.

The wattage and lumens are based on the Design Lights Consortium (DLC) or ENERGY STAR® listing.

Prescriptive lighting incentives are based on the number of replaced fixtures, not wattage reduction. Eligibility is limited to a one-for-one replacement. 

There may be two types of inspections during the process:

  • Pre-inspection: This may occur before your application is approved to verify existing conditions and confirm that new equipment has not yet been installed.
  • Post-inspection: This may happen after your project is pre-approved but before payment. It confirms that the installation is complete, the equipment is operational, and the project matches the approved scope.

The time between application and pre-inspection is generally dictated based on customer availability. In general, it is approximately 2-3 weeks.

Program Ally And Contractor Information

A Program Ally within the JCP&L network helps customers access energy-saving solutions, offering design, installation, and tailored recommendations to reduce energy use and costs.

Prescriptive and Custom Programs:
No, you are not required to use a Program Ally. You may submit your project yourself or work with any contractor. However, only approved Program Allies can submit a project on your behalf.

RCx, RCx-Lite, VCx, VSEM, SEM, Engineered Solutions Tier I, and Engineered Solutions Tier II:
Yes, you must work with a Program Ally approved for the specific program. For example, only a Program Ally approved for RCx can participate in the RCx program.

VCx and VSEM: The Program Ally is responsible for submitting the application and supporting the project through its lifecycle.

As a Program Ally, your business will be listed on the JCP&L program website, making it easier for customers to find and connect with you. You’ll be able to submit projects on behalf of customers and track application progress through the program’s web portal.

Additionally, you’ll receive regular updates on program announcements and changes, and access to marketing support, including program collateral and opportunities to connect with potential customers through webinars and program-hosted events.

To get started, please visit our Program Ally webpage for details on how to apply. Once the program team reviews and approves your application, you will receive temporary login credentials. Use these credentials to create your permanent login and complete your registration as an official Program Ally.

Yes, if you are an approved (registered) Program Ally. If not, please see the Program Ally webpage.

Please use your permanent login credentials to apply via the Program Ally portal. This ensures the Online Application (OLA) is linked to your unique company code.

Use the Forgot Password/Username feature. If still unable to successfully log in, contact JCPLResetPassword@trccompanies.com and request a password reset.

Prevailing wage is ONLY required from the Engineered Solutions Tier I and Engineered Solutions Tier II programs.

Project Extensions and Cancellations

Yes, subject to program approval, the program may provide extensions of expiration dates upon request. The request should be in writing and emailed to the case manager.

At this time, the extensions will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. The extension request should clearly define the reason and timeframe needed to complete the project.

You may cancel a project application by requesting in writing and emailing the case manager.