Back to Search

Real Time Energy Management (RTEM) Program

Program Name: Real Time Energy Management (RTEM) Program
Program Sponsor: NYSERDA
Program Type:          Management Software/ Data Tracking; Information Sharing/Technical Support
Technology:               Alternative Energy Generation/ Renewables; Energy Efficiency/ Demand Response
Fuel:                           Fuel Neutral
Eligibility:                  Small businesses; Multifamily buildings with 5+ units
Cost: Application Based

The application deadline for RTEM for Small Business and Multifamily RTEM is December 31st, 2024.

Description 

Real Time Energy Management (RTEM) is a term used by the New York State Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to describe a combination of systems and services employed to monitor and identify building improvement opportunities. The system consists of hardware, software, and secure internet connectivity that continuously transmits a building’s current and historical performance data to the cloud, provides automated fault detection and diagnostics (FDD), and supports demand response.

RTEM continuously analyzes real-time granular data from the cloud and transforms it into actionable information for property owners, building managers and tenants, and can pinpoint a building’s operational inefficiencies, identify energy conservation measures, and help justify capital improvements.

NYSERDA offers 20-30% cost-share incentive for RTEM project expenses which include hardware, installation, and three years of ongoing support from energy experts.

Eligibility

RTEM programs remain available for two types of entities: small businesses, and multifamily buildings with 5+ units.  Eligible buildings and businesses must be New York State electricity distribution customers of a participating utility company that pays into the System Benefits Charge (SBC), including Con Edison in Westchester County.

How the Program Works

RTEM for Small Business: The RTEM for Small Business program provides professionally curated analytics and recommendations to business owners tailored for their space and budget. A Small Business includes properties of less than 50,000 Gross SQFT, with average 12-month peak demand of less than 300 kW. Eligible businesses include, but are not limited to, education, food sales/services, lodging, mercantile (retail other than mall), professional/technical services, public assembly, religious worship, and municipal sites. Eligible sites must also be on a Commercial rate with a participating utility.

NYSERDA offers a 30% cost-share incentive for eligible small business RTEM project expenses, subject to a total incentive cap of $85,000 for both System and Service costs.  Costs may include hardware, software, installation, and three years of ongoing support from energy experts.

In addition to the minimum project scope for standard RTEM projects defined in PON 3689 , RTEM for Small Business projects must include: (1) whole building energy monitoring; (2) all utility meters serving the site must be monitored / integrated into the platform; (3) each Service Report must also include an estimated breakdown of total energy by end use; and (4) three  years of service is required.  Currently, PON 3689 is closed to solicitation.

Interested businesses can get started by selecting a NYSERDA-qualified RTEM vendor who will complete an application for an eligible project on the NYSERDA portal.

Multifamily RTEM: New York State multifamily buildings with five (5) or more units including rentals, cooperatives, and condominiums. The minimum project scope for standard RTEM projects and additional requirements for Market Rate Multifamily and LMI Multifamily projects may be found here.

For Market Rate Multifamily projects, NYSERDA offers 20% cost share for system installation and service costs for three (3) years. For LMI Multifamily projects NYSERDA offers 30% cost share for system installation and service costs for three (3) years. Each Multifamily sector qualifying project site is limited to receiving $155,000 of program funding, and Multifamily Portfolio Cap NYSERDA funding is limited to a maximum of $1,500,000 per customer.

How to Apply

Interested businesses can get started by selecting a NYSERDA-qualified RTEM vendor, who will complete an application for an eligible project on the NYSERDA portal.

For more information, please visit the RTEM Programs webpage.

Contact Information

Questions may be emailed to rtem@nyserda.ny.gov.

X