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/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 Package
Windows Add-On
Good
Better
Upgrades
Seal and insulate attic and rim joist
Good Package plus insulate walls and floors
After air-sealing and insulating, upgrade windows to ENERGY STAR
Value
The 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 Time
Customers 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
Contact information for Comfort Home support is now the same as for REA and EmPower+.
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
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
Open the enrollment workflow, and navigate to the Workscope Submission Step.
Open the Existing Conditions tab.
In the Dwelling Information section, update the “Dwelling Type” using the dropdown menu.
Click Save.
Add a note explaining that the dwelling type was updated. Save the note.
Stage: Workscope Submission
Updating Unit/Apt/Floor Numbers
Open the enrollment workflow and navigate to the Workscope Submission Step.
Open the Applicant Information tab.
In the Installation Address section, enter the appropriate unit/apt/floor number in the Unit Field.
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.
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.
