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Tag: Announcement

Comfort Home Updates

Program/s: Comfort Home
To: All Comfort Home Contractors
Summary: Comfort Home Updates
Contact with Questions: Please reach out to Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069 with any questions

Details:

  1. Photos are required for Comfort Home projects with:
    1. Attic work that’s requesting package B incentives for “wall” work. Before and after photos of the walls are required. Applies to gable end walls, knee walls, cheek walls, access stair walls, etc.
    2. Dense-packing above-grade exterior walls. Per Program Announcement from November 2024: Work scope submissions that include the dense packing of wall cavities or ceiling slopes where the proposed cavity includes pre-existing insulation must include photos of the existing wall cavity conditions to support that the combined R-value and density of new and existing insulation will meet manufacturer installation specifications. Building component example that does NOT qualify: 2×4 wall cavity that has two inches (or more) of pre-existing fiberglass insulation. Building component example that DOES qualify: 2×6 wall cavity that has 3 inches (or less) of preexisting fiberglass insulation.
  2. To help in situations where the blower door test might not be performed in the first assessment visit (customer doesn’t commit to work): The assessment blower door test incentive is being adjusted to include blower door test done before work and before assessment submission in the New York Home Energy Portal (NYHEP).
  3. If Calculate Savings fails fast with a generic error, check the ZIP Code. Check the Installation Address ZIP Code on the Applicant Information page for a typo. Enter the full address into Google to see if the result comes back with the same ZIP Code or an adjusted ZIP Code.
  4. Ensure that uploaded documents are attached in the right slot in NYHEP. Use the Customer Release Form slot to upload the release form. Don’t use the New button or Other Attachments slot and try to label the upload as the release form. NYHEP still sees the Customer Release Form upload slot as empty and will enforce an upload there. The same applies to the Load Reduction Contract.
  5. A second project for the same home is eligible for a total of $1,000 incentive if completed within a year of the first project and a total of $2,000 incentive if completed more than a year after the first project.
  6. CLEAResult will now be looking for prior projects during Assessment Review and advising, via Notes, if a prior project is found and what package was installed. This will provide notice of incentive expectations sooner than Install Review.
  7. Comfort Home package incentives apply when the home is improved to meet all of the performance criteria in the applicable package. The incentives are not based on how much of an area is treated. If the whole attic isn’t improved, then the project isn’t eligible for Comfort Home. If the rim joist isn’t accessible and hasn’t been air-sealed and insulated, then the project isn’t eligible for Comfort Home. An exception of less than 10% may be allowed for a small inaccessible area or small decked area of an attic floor. If you have any questions about whether a potential project is eligible, please reach out to Contractor Support at Support.Residential@nyserda.ny.gov.

These updates were covered during the October NYSERDA Home Modernization Monthly Contractor Webinar.

NYSERDA Home Modernization Monthly Contractor Webinar

Program/s: EmPower+, Residential Energy Assessments, Comfort Home
To: Participating Contractors
Summary: Monthly Contractor Update
Contact with Questions: residential.programs@nyserda.ny.gov

NYSERDA Home Modernization Monthly Contractor Webinar
Friday, November 7, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. ET

Webinar number: 2538 916 5659
Event password:  Energy1 

All attendees must register prior to joining the event. This process will allow you to add the meeting to your calendar and provides each individual with a custom link to join the meeting. Please do not share your link with anyone. To register, please click here.

All webinars are recorded and links to the recordings are available on the Contractor Support site.

EmPower+ Mass Media Approval Deadline

To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors
Summary: EmPower+ Mass Media Approval Deadline
Questions: Uthman.Aziz@nyserda.ny.gov

Historically the Home Modernization team has worked with participating contractors to advance and promote the EmPower+ program through various advertising channels. Effective October 27, 2025, no new mass media advertising (TV, radio, print, social media, etc.) specifically calling out EmPower+ or its program offerings will be approved.  Any advertising approved prior to Oct. 27, may run through existing contracted completion dates. 

Flyers or similar materials distributed by contractors to customers will continue to be reviewed by NYSERDA on a case-by-case basis by submitting copies to uthman.aziz@nyserda.ny.gov for prior approval.

KEDLI HEAT Transition to EmPower+ Webinar

To: Participating Contractors
Regarding Programs: EmPower+
Summary: KEDLI HEAT Transition to EmPower+ Webinar
Contact: Contractor Support at (800) 284-9069 or support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov

A webinar will be held on October 17, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. to share information on the transition of National Grid’s KEDLI HEAT offering to NYSERDA’s EmPower+ Program. Participating Contractors and Regional Clean Energy Hubs working in the territory are encouraged to attend.

The KEDLI HEAT program will close by December 31, 2025. Concurrently, NYSERDA’s EmPower+ program will expand to serve eligible gas customers located in KEDLI’s service territory through its standard program offering. NYSERDA will begin taking applications for Long Island gas customers in EmPower+ beginning November 1, 2025.

Register for the webinar

All webinars are recorded and links to the recordings are available on the Contractor Support site.

Program Permit Requirements

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Contractors
Summary: Program Permit requirements
Contact with Questions: Matthew Houle

Starting October 1 all projects with Electrical Panel Installations or electrical wiring upgrades must have a permit submitted with the project, if a permit is required by the local code office. If an inspection will be done after final project submission, a note should be added to the project indicating when the expected inspection will occur. After the inspection occurs, a photograph of the inspection sticker should be added to the project.

All other projects that require permits will need to have the permits added to the project document page in NYHEP after November 1.

The Participation Agreement that all contractors have signed to participate in NYSERDA Home Modernization programs requires contractors to follow all requirements of the local code office at all times, regardless of the dates required for permit uploads to NYHEP.

This was covered during the October NYSERDA Home Modernization Monthly Contractor Webinar.