About
The Energy Cost Savings Program (ECSP) can reduce regulated energy costs up to 45 percent and regulated natural gas costs up to 35 percent for eligible businesses. Regulated costs are the transmission and distribution costs by the regulated utility. The benefits associated with ECSP last for eight years followed by a four year phase-out during which benefits are decreased by 20% per year.
Businesses eligible for ECSP benefits include the following:
- Businesses that are moving from outside New York City or from designated areas of Long Island City (Queens) and Fulton Ferry (Brooklyn) to all areas of the City other than south of 96th Street in Manhattan, Long Island City, and Fulton Ferry;
- Businesses moving from Manhattan south of the center line of 96th Street to Manhattan north of the center line of 96th Street to the other four boroughs;
- Businesses making investments in real property that will improve such property by at least 30% of the property's assessed value and will be approved for benefits through the New York City Industrial and Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP);
- Businesses that will be approved for benefits through the New York City Industrial Development Agency (NYCIDA) or businesses that manage and/or operate in a building owned by the City of New York or Empire State Development Corporation, where the property will be improved by at least 10% of the property's assessed value.
Special Eligible Premises (SEP) are buildings which have previously undergone capital improvements and been approved by ECSP as eligible for benefits. SEP tenants occupying a space which has never received benefits may qualify for a full 12-year benefit; those businesses replacing a tenant that previously received ECSP benefits may be eligible to receive the remaining years of the benefit schedule of the prior tenant. To do so, the business must meet all program eligibility criteria and apply within 120 days of signing a lease to the premise.
Additional resources
NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS)
Business Incentives Unit
1 Liberty Plaza, 11th Floor
New York NY 10006
For further assistance, please call 311 and ask for: Energy Cost Savings Program