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Program Announcement

Single Family Residential Transition to Home Modernization 

Program/s: EmPower+, Residential Energy Assessments, Comfort Home 
To: Participating Contractors
Summary: Single Family Residential Transition to Home Modernization
Contact with Questions: support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov

NYSERDA is changing the Single-Family Residential team name to Home Modernization. This change is effective immediately; however, NYSERDA will be transitioning away from references to Single Family Residential to Home Modernization over the next few months.  Home Modernization encompasses the following programs:

  • EmPower+
  • Comfort Home
  • Residential Energy Assessments

This notice is for informational purposes only, there is no action required by Participating Contractors.

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

Minimum Production Evaluation

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.

Income Documentation Reminder

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.

Quarterly Certification Audit – Find-A-Contractor Site

Program/s: EmPower+ 
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors
Summary: Quarterly Certification Audit – Find-A-Contractor Site
Contact with Questions: Elizabeth.Lazarou@nyserda.ny.gov

To ensure our records are current, we are conducting a quarterly review of EmPower+ Participating Contractor certifications. We ask that you take a moment to review your information on the EmPower+ site on behalf of your company, and respond with any changes by May 23.

Per Section 5.2 of the Program Manual:

“The participating contractor shall provide NYSERDA written documentation identifying each certified individual and copies of their certifications. This is inclusive of staff who will be onsite in a customer’s home and not office staff or other support staff not at project locations. As an ongoing requirement, the participating contractor shall immediately inform the Program of any change to the list of certified staff.”

If there are any questions or if you need to provide updated certification information, please contact Elizabeth.Lazarou@nyserda.ny.gov. 

Updates to QMS Inspection Checklist

Program/s: EmPower+, Appliance Upgrade (AUP) 
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors
Summary: Updates to QMS Inspection Checklist
Contact with Questions: david.houle@nyserda.ny.gov

The EmPower+ and Appliance Upgrade Program Quality Assurance (QA) inspection checklists have been updated to include verification that electrical work requiring a permit and inspection by the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) have been completed.

For example, in homes where a panel upgrade was provided the inspectors will be looking for a sticker on the new panel, indicating the equipment has been inspected. Should the AHJ inspection sticker not be affixed to the new electrical equipment at the time of the QA inspection the installing contactor or customer can provide evidence a permit was obtained and the AHJ inspection is pending.

Please note that section 5.15 of the EmPower+ Program Manual includes Permits as an enabling measure.  The updated checklist is now available on the contractor support site.

Sincerely,

The Quality and Market Standards Team