EmPower+

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors and Hubs
Summary: Updates to Multi-Unit Enrollment Submissions
Contact: Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069 or support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov

Updates have been made to the requirements for EmPower+ multi-unit enrollment submissions in the New York Home Energy Portal (NYHEP). The updates are as follows:

• Measures must be specific to the individual unit and modeled on the unit that is receiving the benefit of the installed measure.
• NYHEP modeling should be accurate to the unit, not the entire building.
• All units in a multi-unit building should be submitted at the same time, and addresses should be accurate, including unit numbers where applicable. Any additional information contractors can provide is encouraged to be included. This will ensure a comprehensive project is proposed for the whole property, and limit processing delays.

This was discussed during the monthly contractor webinar on June 6th. Please reach out to Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069 with any questions.

Program: EmPower+ 
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors  
Summary: Rental Agreement and Project Assignment
Contact with Questions: 1-866-NYSERDA or email at info.residential@nyserda.ny.gov  

This is a reminder on the rules around rentals and the responsibility of Participating Contractors to verify ownership with the landlord/building owner. When an application for a rental unit is received, if a Rental Property Services Agreement (Landlord Agreement) is not provided with the application, TRC will reach out to the building owner to have this document signed and returned to the Program. If a landlord agreement not received, then the project will be assigned as a direct install only project. If a landlord agreement is received, then the project can be assigned as a full comprehensive project.

If the project is assigned as full comprehensive, it is still the responsibility of the Participating Contractor to verify ownership of the project. Per Section 5.17 of the Program Manual:

“In rental properties, the participating contractor must ensure that the building owner signs a Rental Property Energy Efficiency Services Agreement, found in Section 3 of the Program Manual prior to completing any invasive work and attest to the review of documentation that proves home ownership (deed, mortgage book, tax bill, etc.). Otherwise, measures are limited to non-invasive direct install/electric reduction measures.”

If there are any questions, please contact the Program at 1-866-NYSERDA or email at info.residential@nyserda.ny.gov  

Program/s: EmPower+ 
To: EmPower+ and Comfort Home Participating Contractors
Summary: Minimum Production Evaluation
Contact with Questions: support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov

Currently, NYSERDA is reviewing EmPower+ and Comfort Home Participating Contractor production numbers for 2024.  To maintain quality services, NYSERDA requires each contractor complete a minimum number of projects each year. Each program’s production requirements are summarized below:

• Comfort Home: Minimum of 12 Comfort Home project completion project annually
• EmPower+:  A minimum of twelve (12) completed projects or at least $100,000 in completed, eligible work through NYSERDA’s residential programs. This can include a combined 12 projects/audit completions through participation in one or more of the following programs:
  • EmPower+
  • Comfort Home
  • NY Sun
  • Residential Energy Assessments

Following review of the production data, NYSERDA will begin outreach to contractors not meeting minimum production requirements on the next steps.

If there are any questions, please contact support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov.

Program/s: EmPower+ 
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors and Hubs
Summary: Income Documentation Reminder
Contact with Questions: info.residential@nyserda.ny.gov

A Program reminder for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits and how each impacts EmPower+ eligibility. 

For the purposes of EmPower+ income qualification, if an applicant provides an SSI benefits letter, the household is considered categorically eligible for EmPower+ and no additional income documentation is required. An SSI benefits letter will be from the Social Security Administration and will clearly state what the Supplemental Security Income monthly benefit is.

If a household provides an SSA benefits letter, this encompasses Social Security income from retirement, disability, or survivor benefits. SSA benefits are considered standard income and must be reported along with all other household income before an income eligibility determination can be made.

This was covered on the April 4, 2025 and May 2, 2025, contractor check in webinars, which also provided examples of the award letters for reference.

 If there are any questions on income documentation, please reach out to TRC at info.residential@nyserda.ny.gov or call 1-866-NYSERDA.