EmPower+

Program: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Contractors
Summary: Launching of Quality Home Contractor
Contact with Questions:  Amy Kasson-Muzio

Dear Stakeholders,

To help New Yorkers during their contractor research and selection process, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has developed a designation that recognizes EmPower+ contractors who consistently meet high standards of quality.

In early January 2025, NYSERDA’s Quality and Market Standards, QMS, team along with assistance from the EmPower+ Program team reviewed all contractor project activity during the previous calendar year. All active full status EmPower+ contractors who have completed at least 12 full comprehensive projects within the past calendar year and have an average field inspection QA score of 4.0 (no rounding up) or greater in-field inspections performed within the past calendar year and must not have been on any disciplinary action, either probation or suspension, within the past calendar year, are eligible.

We are proud to announce that designated Quality Home Contractors were responsible for 70% of all statewide projects in 2024. The QMS team extends a sincere thanks to all participating contractors for their dedication to high standards and continued support of a cleaner, more sustainable New York. 

Didn’t earn the QHC designation this year? Make 2025 your company’s comeback!  Connect with the QMS team to schedule a meeting, the QMS team is ready to support your organization’s success every step of the way. Reach out to [email protected] with the subject line QHC 2025 to set up a meeting.

Have a Quality Day!   

Sincerely,

The Quality and Market Standards Team  

Program: EmPower+ 
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors and Hubs
Summary: Income Documentation Access
Contact with Questions: Contract support at (800) 284 – 9069 or email at [email protected] 

As part of NYSERDA’s continued efforts to be good stewards of Personal, Private or Sensitive Information (PPSI), NYSERDA will further restrict access of Income, Categorical and Other Documents used to determine eligibility and submitted as part of the EmPower+ Application process.  Beginning the week of April 21, access to these documents will vary based on the individual that submitted the application and their role required to view the information. Generally:

• Participating Contractors, Clean Energy Hubs, and other partners who submit application documents on behalf of a customer will have access to documentation uploaded to the Income, Categorical, and Other Documents sections up through the application review and approval process.  Once the application review is complete, access to these documents will be restricted. 
• Access to documentation uploaded to the Income, Categorical, and Other Documents sections for applications submitted directly by individual customers will be restricted to only NYSERDA and program implementation staff. 

If you have any questions, please contact Contractor Support at 800-284-9069 or email at [email protected]. 

Program: EmPower+ 
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors  
Summary: Project Completion Timeline to 90 Days
Contact with Questions: Contract support at (800) 284 – 9069 or email at [email protected]  

With the implementation of the Provisional Approval work step, NYSERDA is revising the timeline for the expected completion of EmPower+ projects. Currently, contractors are expected to complete a project within 120 days from the workscope submission step. Effective immediately, contractors are expected to complete projects within 90 days following notification of the final work scope submission stage in NYHEP. Section 5.21 of the Program Manual has been updated to reflect this change.

If there are any questions, please Contract support at (800) 284 – 9069 or email at [email protected]. 

Program: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors
Summary: Important Program Updates
Contact with Questions: Contract support at (800) 284 – 9069 or email at [email protected]

Please see the following program updates. These were covered in more detail on the March 7, 2025, Contractor Check-in webinar, which can be reviewed in its entirely here: Webinars – Contractor Support.

Provisional Approvals

To maintain overall program continuity and equitable access to incentives, NYSERDA is implementing a new EmPower+ project management and approval process. The new approach will give NYSERDA the capability to manage the flow of projects in alignment with customer need and regional production goals. 

A contractor will submit the proposed work scope for the customer’s project. After it is approved by CLEAResult, it will proceed to the Provisional Approval workflow step.  When the work scope has been approved for installation, the project will move to final project submission and NYSERDA will send an auto generated email to the customer, contractor, and Hub letting them know the work scope has been approved and is ready for installation.

This change is expected to be implemented on April 2, 2025.

Refrigerators and Freezers

To ensure program funds are focused on measures that maximize benefits, including energy and cost savings to the consumer, the EmPower+ program has periodically assessed the performance of different measures and upgrades offered through the program. It has been determined that refrigerator and freezer replacements produce less significant cost savings as compared to other measures offered through EmPower+, so we have therefore reallocated that funding to higher impact measures, effective as of March 14, 2025. Projects with previously submitted and approved refrigerators and freezers will be allowed to proceed.

Onboarding New Contractors

Effective April 2, 2025, EmPower+ will focus the onboarding of new contractors to the following regions:

• North Country
• Capital Region
• Mid-Hudson
• New York City

If there are any questions, please contact Contract support at (800) 284 – 9069 or email at [email protected]