Mass Save incentives can cover a significant share of your EMS project.
Massachusetts utility programs routinely cover a significant share of EMS installation and retrofit costs. FMC handles qualification, documentation, and the final rebate claim — from pre-approval through utility sign-off.
Full retrofit & additions · No up-front paperwork fee · In-house Mass Save liaison
Incentive estimator
Ballpark only — real scoping starts with a walkthrough.
Estimator figures are directional only. Actual Mass Save incentives are determined by your utility's pre-approval process, measured savings, and program availability in your rate class.
We work with utility programs across New England.
A three-step process. FMC handles two of them.
You don't need to learn the Mass Save portal. We've managed hundreds of these filings and know the process well.
- Pre-approval
We model expected kWh savings against your baseline, submit for pre-approval with your utility, and lock in the incentive tier before you sign anything. Handled by FMC.
- Install & commission
Normal EMS work — site survey, controllers, sequences, commissioning — with the documentation the utility will need to see at the end. Handled by FMC.
- Claim & receive
Final measurement-and-verification report, utility sign-off, rebate issued. You countersign; FMC prepares the package and the check shows up.
Every project gets matched to the right incentive path.
Mass Save is a catalog of programs, not a single rebate. We identify which paths apply to your building and combine them where program rules allow.
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Most common
Custom Controls & EMS
Performance-based path for sites installing or expanding building control systems. Incentive sized to measured energy savings — the biggest lever for most EMS projects.
- Applies to new installs and full retrofits
- Covers controllers, sensors, programming, commissioning
- Pre-approval required before install starts
Typical cost-share30 – 50% -
For existing buildings
Retro-Commissioning (RCx)
For sites with an EMS already in place. Covers re-tuning sequences, fixing drift, and documenting measured savings. Pairs naturally with an ongoing FMC service engagement.
- No major capital work required
- Incentive covers engineering time and M&V
- Typically 3–6 month turnaround
Typical cost-share50 – 75% -
For new builds
New Construction — Whole Building
Design-phase path for projects beyond code minimum. Best filed early — the earlier FMC is brought in during design, the larger the eligible measure set.
- Integrated across HVAC, lighting, envelope
- Coordinated with your architect and MEP
- Incentive disbursed after occupancy & M&V
Typical cost-shareUp to 40% -
Under 300 kW
Small Business Energy Advantage
Streamlined prescriptive path for smaller commercial accounts. Less paperwork, faster turnaround, often covers simpler control upgrades and scheduling projects.
- No pre-approval modeling required
- Common for single-site retail and office
- Direct-install options available
Typical cost-shareUp to 70%
Will your building qualify?
Most commercial buildings in Massachusetts do. Here's a rough guide before we visit the site.
Typically qualifies
- Commercial offices over 20,000 sf with existing or planned HVAC controls
- K–12 schools and municipal buildings (dedicated program tiers)
- Multi-tenant properties — the owner or tenant can apply
- Manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution facilities
- Retrofits replacing pneumatic or legacy DDC systems
- New construction meeting prescriptive or custom-path measures
May need custom path
- Buildings already under recent incentive contracts
- Single-tenant residential conversions
- Projects where baseline data is thin or unavailable
- Out-of-state facilities (other utility territories)
- Equipment-only swaps with no controls scope
What the calendar usually looks like.
A medium-sized retrofit from first walkthrough to rebate in hand. Your project may move faster or slower — utility review times vary.
Common questions about incentives.
How much will my building actually get back?
It depends on measured savings, scope, and the specific program path. A full EMS retrofit on a 100,000 sf commercial office typically lands somewhere between $30K and $70K, but that range flexes a lot with your baseline and the measures in scope.
The estimator on this page is ballpark-only. A 90-minute walkthrough gets you a real number within a week.
Do I have to fill out the Mass Save paperwork myself?
No. FMC manages the entire package — savings modeling, pre-approval submission, measurement & verification, final rebate filing. You countersign the application and the final claim; we handle everything between.
If you've filed yourself before and want to keep that relationship with your utility rep, that works too. We'll hand you a clean documentation package instead.
Does it cost anything up front to explore this?
No. The walkthrough, scoping memo, and rough incentive read are free. We only start billing once there's a signed proposal and pre-approval in hand.
What if I already have an EMS? Can I still get incentives?
Yes — often through the Retro-Commissioning program. If your existing system has drifted from commissioning (nearly every system does, within a year or two), Mass Save will typically fund the engineering work to re-tune it. These projects have some of the best cost-share ratios in the catalog.
Can incentives be stacked with other funding?
Sometimes. Mass Save programs generally coordinate with federal incentives (e.g., 179D, IRA-related programs) but not with other utility rebates for the same measure. We'll flag the stacking question during pre-approval.
How long does the rebate take to arrive after commissioning?
Typically 8–12 weeks after final M&V documents are submitted. Some utilities move faster; some take a full quarter. We follow up with the utility on your behalf.
Who actually gets the check — the owner, tenant, or FMC?
You do. The rebate is paid to the customer of record on the utility account. FMC's fee is separate and invoiced normally. We never take a cut of the rebate.
Every project starts with a free walkthrough.
Tell us about your building and what you're hoping to do. We'll visit the site — at no cost and with no obligation — and give you a read on Mass Save eligibility before anything is signed.