Northeast Energy Efficiency Policy In Your State
Energy Efficiency Policy in New Jersey
New Jersey's energy efficiency programs are operated under the New Jersey Clean Energy Council (NJCEC), a collaborative of energy stakeholder which provides input to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on programs.
• NJCEC is charged with providing input to the BPU regarding the design, budgets, objectives, goals, administration, and evaluation of New Jersey's Clean Energy Program. It offers incentives for residential and commercial electric customers to upgrade their lighting and appliances to ENERGY STAR certified products.
• Efficiency programs are funded by a System Benefits Charge (SBC) from its investor-owned electric and gas utilities.
• The state treats energy efficiency as a resource by providing performance incentives for meeting specific energy savings goals.
New Jersey Energy Master Plan
New Jersey is required by statute to create an Energy Master Plan that will "provide safe, secure, reasonably priced energy supplies and services," encourage and maintain economic growth prospects for the State," and "promote the achievement of Federal and State environmental requirements and objectives in an effective and low-cost manner and, where possible, provide market-based incentives to achieve those goals." More about New Jersey's Energy Master Plan can be found here.
In April, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities released "An Energy Efficiency Strategy for New Jersey: Achieving the 2020 Master Plan Goals." This report, written by NEEP, offers a portfolio of program and policy strategies to achieve the Energy Master Plan 2020 goal while collectively realizing $16.8 billion in net savings.
Calling for the formation of a New Jersey Energy Efficiency Utility, NEEP recommends a comprehensive statewide energy efficiency program complemented by public policies that establish minimum energy requirements for new appliances, and new homes and buildings. For information read media coverage of the release of the report, here.
Building Energy Codes
New Jersey also has mandatory statewide energy building codes for residential construction, based on IECC 2006, and for commercial construction, based on ASHRAE 90.1-2004.
State Offices
Board of Public Utilities
Division of Codes and Standards
Program Administrators
New Jersey Clean Energy Program
Key Policies
Executive Order 11: Energy Efficient State Buildings
Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act of 1999