The New York Power Authority recently launched the state’s first energy management network operations center – the New York Energy Manager (NYEM). Housed in Albany in partnership with the Colleges of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, NYEM, is a comprehensive network and decision tool that utilizes Big Data analytics to monitor and troubleshoot buildings to reduce energy waste. NYPA is deploying and managing this state-wide energy-monitoring hub to provide access to secure, comprehensive energy management reporting for more than 3,000 public buildings, with the potential to serve many more facilities.

With state public facilities getting real-time data on their energy use, they can improve building energy performance and lower the State’s utility bills. Basically, it will be like performing a MRI on a facility and getting an incredibly detailed report about how it consumes energy.

By knowing more, we can do more. We will utilize analytics and engineering expertise provided by this new energy management operations network, enabling NYPA to:

o   Continuously improve energy management and operations of state facilities

o   Drive down government operating expenses and save taxpayers money

o   Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

o   Create jobs in the emerging green economy

To get more granular, by integrating energy data from facility sub-meters and local utilities, building engineers will rapidly diagnose equipment problems and take appropriate actions to reduce energy consumption in a timely manner.

With Big Data analytics provided by NYEM, government building operators will be better informed when making real-time energy management decisions and planning for future changes in energy use. Peering into the future, we expect that the NYEM technology will eventually be utilized by the private sector in its energy planning activities.

NYEM provides an important  vehicle for implementing one of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s main energy objectives, Build Smart NY, to reduce energy consumption by 20 percent in State government facilities by 2020. Still another great byproduct of NY Energy Manager is that it creates an important set of tools for supporting a fundamental shift in the utility business.  Governor Cuomo’s Reforming Energy Vision or REV is about changing utility regulations to enable renewable energy and building energy efficiency to be economically favorable for utilities and customers.

Under REV, reduced energy demand and consumption in buildings will be a valuable commodity to be bought and sold, and NY Energy Manager will provide the precise insight building operators need to take advantage of these opportunities.

The electric power industry is undergoing a sea-change, largely driven by unprecedented advances in technology. As we seek to take full advantage of extraordinary opportunities, access to better data is more important than ever. By acquiring a more accurate view of our State’s energy use, we will become far more adept at asking good questions that will yield even greener answers.

Gil C. Quiniones (@GQEnergy) is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Power Authority. Quiniones has served as Senior Vice President of Energy and Telecommunications for the New York City Economic Development Corporation during the Bloomberg Administration, and worked for Con Edison for 16 years.