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Program Announcement

Closing Date for the 2024-2025 HEAP Cooling Assistance Component

Program/s: EmPower+, Weatherization Assistance Program 
To: Participating Contractors, Clean Energy Hubs
Summary: Closing Date for the 2024-2025 HEAP Cooling Assistance Component
Contact: HEAP Bureau (518) 473-0332 or NYSHEAP@otda.ny.gov

Section 2 – Cooling Assistance Component (CAC) Dates of Operation

The 2024-2025 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) CAC stopped accepting applications on June 23, 2025. Any applications received after the CAC closing date must be denied using the Client Notice System (CNS) closing code M09 “Cooling Benefit Denial” or the Home Energy Assistance Program Notice of Eligibility Decision – Denial (LDSS 3494B).

All HEAP CAC applications must be processed in accordance with instructions found in 25DC026, 24-LCM-15, and the HEAP Manual. Vendors must submit final bills to social services districts (districts) within 30 business days of services rendered, but no later than September 30, 2025.

Section 3 – Additional Guidance for Districts

Districts are reminded to continue submitting their HEAP Pending Case Report on a weekly basis, as outlined in 24-LCM-15 and 25DC026.

Households who requested CAC after the closing date of June 23, 2025, should be provided with resources on managing extreme heat, including information on any local cooling centers.

Please see the following websites for some helpful information: 

  • Extreme Heat Advice – Department of Health website that includes information on extreme heat, such as how to determine the heat risk by zip code and a link to locate local cooling centers. 
  • Extreme Heat and Your Health – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website that includes tips and suggestions for managing and preventing heat-related illnesses.

Updated Income Limits for EmPower+

Program/s: EmPower+ 
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors, Regional Clean Energy Hubs
Summary: Updated Income Limits for EmPower+
Contact: If there are any questions, please call us at 1-866-NYSERDA

The income limits for EmPower+ have been updated and will be effective as of July 1, 2025. This round of updates only impacts the Area Median Income numbers used to determine eligibility for the EmPower+ moderate income incentive. The next round of revisions will take place in the Fall when the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) income guidelines are updated.

These income limits are based on 2024-2025 State Median Income numbers provided by HEAP and 2025 Area Median Income numbers provided by The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The updated guidelines can be found in Section 3.4 of the Program Manual.

NYSERDA is in the process of updating its website and anticipates these changes to be posted in mid-July. If you have any questions, please contact 1-866-NYSERDA.

Program Updates

Program/s: Comfort Home 
To: Comfort Home Participating Contractors
Summary: Program Updates
Contact with Questions: Keith.bohling@nyserda.ny.gov

Revised Comfort Home incentives went into effect on June 1st:

 Select an Insulation PackageWindows Add-On
 GoodBetter
UpgradesSeal and insulate attic and rim joistGood Package plus
insulate walls and floors		After air-sealing and insulating, upgrade windows to ENERGY STAR
ValueThe average home saves 14% on their heating and cooling consumption after installing this package.The average home saves 20% on their heating and cooling consumption after installing this package.For homes with upgraded air-sealing and insulation, upgrading the windows saves an average of an additional 8% on heating and cooling consumption.
NYSERDA Incentive$2,500$3,000$2,000
Multiple Comfort Home Projects Over TimeCustomers who received Comfort Home incentives for a package within the past year are eligible for a total of $1,000 toward another package.
 
Customers who received Comfort Home incentives for a package more than a year ago are eligible for total of $2,000 toward another package.
  1. Completing a blower door test at the time of assessment qualifies contractors for an additional $100 incentive.  On the Existing Conditions page, be sure to select “Yes” for Pre-Work Blower Door Test Complete? and select that measure on the Measures page.
  2. A new Comfort Home Fact Sheet is available for download from Comfort Home SharePoint site and the Comfort Home Resources page on the Contractor Support site at https://hpwescontractorsupport.com
  3. A new Comfort Home Program Manual is available for download from Comfort Home SharePoint site and the Comfort Home Resources page on the Contractor Support site at https://hpwescontractorsupport.com.  Page 3 contains a list of the changes made in this version.
  4. Minimum production requirements ensure that participating contractors are familiar with offering the program to the customers, proficient with the workflow, and aren’t creating excessive support needs.  In 2025, Participating Contractors are required to complete a minimum of 12 projects.  Starting January 1, 2026, Participating Contractors are required to complete a minimum of 24 projects per year.  For Participating Contractors performing work in both Comfort Home and EmPower+, projects completed in either program count toward the minimum production requirement.
  5. After a standard load reduction package is completed in the home, the participating contractor will conduct a post-work blower door test, then enter the installation details into NYHEP and produce a Comfort Home Post-Install Measure Report for discussion and signature by the customer. The contractor must keep a copy of the signed Post-Work Completion Form on file for audit or inspection.
  6. Contact information for Comfort Home support is now the same as for REA and EmPower+.

Combined EmPower+/WAP Application

Programs: EmPower+, Weatherization Assistance Program
To: Participating Contractors; Clean Energy Hubs
Summary: Combined EmPower+/WAP Application
Questions: If there are any questions, please contact 1-866-NYSERDA

NYSERDA and New York State Homes and Community Renewal have made available an updated joint application to allow for households to apply to both EmPower+ and Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) using a single application. Contractors with households looking to apply for both programs should begin using this updated version immediately. The application can be found in Section 3 of the Program Manual. This joint application is only available in hardcopy and must be mailed in for processing to the address on the cover page.

Program will continue to accept previous versions of the joint application through the end of June.

Beginning July 1, 2025, only the updated version of the application will be accepted.

If there are any questions, please reach out to 1-866-NYSERDA

Building Type and Unit Numbers

Programs: EmPower+
To: Participating Contractors; Clean Energy Hubs
Summary: Building Type and Unit Numbers
Questions: If there are any questions, please contact 1-866-NYSERDA

For two- to four-family homes, the EmPower+ program has identified a significant number of enrollments with incorrect, missing, or mismatching building type and/or unit numbers. It is important that these fields are correct as they impact NYSERDA’s mandatory reporting requirements. An example of incorrect building type can include an application with a building type listed as “single-family” and an address indicator of “Unit-2”.

It is understood that many of these are the result of applicants incorrectly identifying the building type or omitting unit numbers. NYSERDA is asking for Clean Energy Hubs and Participating Contractors working with applicants to ensure these fields are correct prior to application submission.

In the event an incorrect building type or unit number is encountered, please take action per the project stage as follows:

Stage: Application Not Approved

  • For applications that have not been approved, in the Portal: Navigate to application Step 1, enter unit number under Address 2 and amend property type at the bottom of step 1

Stage: Application Approved, Workscope Not Submitted

  • Email info.residential@nyserda.ny.gov with the updates so the processing team can update in the portal on your behalf. Provide the unit/apartment number, how many units are in the building, and if any of those units have existing applications (if known)

Stage: Workscope Submission

Updating Building Type

  1. Open the enrollment workflow, and navigate to the Workscope Submission Step.
  2. Open the Existing Conditions tab.
  3. In the Dwelling Information section, update the “Dwelling Type” using the dropdown menu.
  1. Click Save. 
  2. Add a note explaining that the dwelling type was updated. Save the note.

Stage: Workscope Submission

Updating Unit/Apt/Floor Numbers

  1. Open the enrollment workflow and navigate to the Workscope Submission Step.
  2. Open the Applicant Information tab.
  3. In the Installation Address section, enter the appropriate unit/apt/floor number in the Unit Field.
  1. In the Mailing Address section, enter the appropriate unit/apt/floor number in the Unit field.

5. Click Save.

6. While still in the Workscope Submission Step, open the Notes tab and enter a note that the unit/apartment/floor number was updated. Save the note.

OR

7. Email support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov or call Contractor Support to request that the team update the customer’s account to show the correct unit/apartment/floor number.