Program Announcement

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Contractors, Clean Energy Hubs
Summary: EmPower+ No-Heat Projects
Questions: If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support 

As a reminder, the heating season is coming to a close at the end of May. The last day to submit a No-Heat project for consideration through EmPower+ is May 31, 2026. Participating Contractors with an active No-Heat project should have these completed no later than June 15, 2026.  

If there are any questions, please reach out to contractor support to support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov or (800)- 284-9069. 

Program/s: EmPower+  
To: Participating Contractors  
Summary: Participation Agreement Changes  
Questions: If there are any questions or you would like to change your participation status send an email to empower.residential@nyserda.ny.gov  

Beginning June 1, 2026, the following changes have been made to the Residential Contractor Participation Agreement and are applicable to all current participating contractors. For existing contractors, no action is required on your part to continue your participation.  

Below is a summary of the Participation Agreement updates:  

• Definitions Section: Removed the Residential Energy Assessment definition 
• Section 2.3: Added an EmPower+ Participating Contractors subsection outlining contractor requirements needed to participate in the Program. 
• Section 3: Added “(Effective Date) through the close out of the NYSERDA Program(s) the Participating Contractor participates in, unless otherwise terminated in accordance with Section 4 of this Agreement.” 
• Section 4.3 Added: Disciplinary Action: “NYSERDA may take disciplinary action against a Participating Contractor at any time.  This includes putting a Participating Contractor on probation, suspension or terminating this Agreement and the Participating Contractor’s ability to participate in the Program per the terms in the applicable Program Manual.  Disciplinary Action up to and including termination can be taken for reasons including but not limited: failure to maintain standards; poor performance in any NYSERDA or utility program(s) (including but not limited to New York State Clean Heat); unresponsiveness; inappropriate behavior; or failure to meet the terms of probation or suspension. If the Participating Contractor participates in multiple NYSERDA programs NYSERDA’s disciplinary status may be applied to each NYSERDA program.” 
• Section 6.1: Removed the contract compliance exception for Residential Energy Assessment projects. 
• Section 6.1: Added required language: “For all EmPower+ funded projects, the following customer language must be included: I understand that funding for this project will be approved by NYSERDA through the EmPower+ Program.  The EmPower+ Program requires the completion of required paperwork as well as required testing upon project completion.  I understand that EmPower+ Program funding will be withheld for this project if I fail to sign all required paperwork or if I do not allow the required testing to be completed at project completion.  If EmPower+ Program funding is withheld for this project, I understand that I will be responsible for payment of the total project cost to the EmPower+ contractor.” 
• Section 6.7: Added an Artificial Intelligence (AI) subsection outlining the requirements surrounding AI use by participating contractors. 
• Section 7.1: Added “The Participating Contractor shall promptly submit required project documentation for payment incentives per the applicable Program Manual.” 
• Section 7.4: Added “The Contractor cannot bill the Customer for incentives on eligible measures that were installed but were not submitted to the Program in accordance with program guidelines.” 
• Section 7.7: Added “During the Stop Work Order, Contractor payments for completed projects may be withheld until a thorough investigation is completed regarding NYSERDA’s concerns with the Contractor’s participation in the Program.” 
• The Participation Agreement is no longer in the EmPower+ Program Manual and can now be found on the Contractor Support Site 

Should you no longer wish to participate in the Program, or if you have any objection to continuing participation in the Program under these terms and conditions, please provide notice to NYSERDA by emailing empower.residential@nyserda.ny.gov no later than June 30th, 2026.  

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Contractors
Summary: 2025-26 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Emergency Component Closing Date
Questions: HEAP Bureau (518) 473-0332 or NYSHEAP@otda.ny.gov

Section 2 – Purpose

The announcement below is being sent on behalf of OTDA:

The 2025-2026 HEAP Emergency component will operate through the close of business (COB), Friday, April 24, 2026. Mail-in applications postmarked on or before the closing date meet the deadline and must be processed.

In accordance with instructions found in 26-LCM-02, 25DC093, and the NYS HEAP Manual, applications for Emergency benefits received after the closing date in Rest of State (ROS) must be denied using CNS denial code F08 (HEAP Application Received after HEAP Program Year Closing Date) or, if needed, by using the HEAP Notice of Eligibility Decision – Denial (LDSS-3494B). Emergency applications received after the closing date in New York City (NYC) must be denied using the appropriate local equivalent denial code.

Section 3 – Meeting Energy Emergencies Through Public Assistance (PA)

Households with an emergency or immediate need who are not eligible for assistance through HEAP, either because they applied and were determined ineligible or because the appropriate component is not open, should be referred to PA as per regular district procedures. Assistance for households with a utility emergency may be met year-round if the household is found eligible for such assistance. Non-utility (oil, kerosene, propane, wood, and other fuels besides natural gas or electricity) fuel emergencies may also be referred to PA, however emergency assistance through PA is only available for non-utility fuel emergencies during each district’s cold weather period.

Detailed information on processing PA requests for energy emergencies is outlined in 25DC067. The Emergency Energy Assistance Desk Guide (LDSS-4884) is available to assist in handling energy emergencies. This resource summarizes how both utility and non-utility energy emergencies must be handled for different household types.

Section 4 – Additional Guidance for Districts

Districts must continue to submit their HEAP Pending Case Report in eReports on a weekly basis, as outlined in 26-LCM-02.

This information should be shared with alternate certifiers. Questions can be addressed with each district’s HEAP Bureau liaison.