Program Announcement

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 support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov  

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 support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov. 

Program: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors
Summary: Important Program Updates
Contact with Questions: Contract support at (800) 284 – 9069 or email at support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov

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 support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov