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Tag: Announcement

Launching of Quality Home Contractor

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Program/s: EmPower+ Contractors
To: EmPower+ Contractors
Summary: Launching of Quality Home Contractor
Contact with Questions:  Amy Kasson-Muzio at amy.kasson-muzio@nyserda.ny.org

Dear Stakeholders,

NYSERDA is in the process of establishing a Quality Home Contractor (QHC) designation aimed at highlighting exemplary performance among Single Family Residential EmPower+ participating contractors.

The Quality Home Contractor designation will help New Yorkers during the contractor search and selection process, by identifying EmPower+ contractors who consistently achieve high standards of quality. The designation will help lessen the search and selection burden on customers and lend confidence that the job will be well-done when a QHC is chosen. The designation will also help contractors to differentiate themselves by the quality of their work.

Eligibility criteria for determining which contractors will receive NYSERDA’s QHC designation are:

  • Must be an active full status EmPower+ contractor,
  • Must complete at least 12 full comprehensive projects within the past calendar year (2024 for the initial designation), and
  • Must have at least a 4.0 (no rounding up) average in-field inspection QA score for the past calendar year.
  • Must not have been on any disciplinary action, either probation or suspension, within the past calendar year. 

The designation will be valid for one calendar year and will be re-evaluated annually using the same criteria. 

Contractors that meet the eligibility criteria will be identified on NYSERDA platforms (e.g., website) and listed as a NYSERDA Quality Home Contractor. These contractors will also be provided with a NYSERDA Quality Home Contractorlabel/logo to use in their own marketing and customer communications as a third-party differentiator and validation of their work quality.

With the addition of the QHC designation, we do not anticipate any other changes to the Quality Assurance inspection guidelines within the overarching Quality Assurance program for EmPower+. 

Sincerely,

The Quality and Market Standards Team  

Switching OTDA 2024 Projects with ASHP/GSHP to IRA

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Program/s: EmPower+
To: Participating Contractors
Summary: Switching OTDA 2024 Projects with ASHP/GSHP to IRA
Questions: Please contact Contractor Support at 1-800-284-9069.

If an OTDA eligible project meets ALL the following requirements, a contractor can request the NYHEP enrollment to be switched to an IRA funded project.

  • Enrollment Incentives exceed $20,000
  • Includes an ASHP/GSHP
  • Note requesting $5,000 expended Value Engineered Incentive

Review the current enrollment for IRA eligibility prior to completing work in NYHEP and BEFORE submitting for approval at Workscope Submission*. Follow the path based on IRA eligibility (A or B).

A.Customer Address Eligible for IRA field is Yes

1. Contractor: For each enrollment submit as support ticket and include

  • Enrollment ID
  • Reason for change “OTDA project exceeding cap, requesting change to IRA”

2. CLEAResult will review request and update NYHEP as needed

  • If necessary, roll back to Workscope Submission

3. Contractor: Review enrollment

  • Ensure IRA incentives are enabled
  • Rework project cost allocation
  • Indicate in notes that project is seeking the Value Engineered Incentives
  • Add any required documentation per Section 5.10 of the Program Manual
  • Resubmit for approval

B. Customer Address Eligible for IRA field is No or is blank or does not exist

1. Contractor: For each enrollment submit as support ticket and include

  • Enrollment ID
  • Reason for change “OTDA project exceeding cap, requesting change to IRA”

2. CLEAResult will review request and initiate an IRA application confirmation with TRC

  • If IRA application confirmed, update NYHEP and roll enrollment back to Workscope Submission
  • If a New enrollment was needed, assign to contractor and close previous enrollment

3. Contractor: Review enrollment or complete new one

  • Ensure IRA incentives are enabled
  • Rework project cost allocation
  • Indicate in notes that project is seeking the Value Engineered Incentives
  • Add any required documentation per Section 5.10 of the Program Manual
  • Resubmit for approval

*If the enrollment is currently in Workscope Review and the OTDA project exceeds $20,000, CLEAResult will automatically send the project back and include the instructions.

Retail Point-of-Sale Program Survey for Single-Family contractors

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Program/s:  All
To:  Participating Contractors
Summary:  Retail Point-of-Sale Program Survey for Single-Family contractors
Contact with Questions:  residential.ira@nyserda.ny.gov.

Tell Us Your Level of Interest! Complete the Retail Point-of-Sale Program Survey.

NYSERDA will be administering a Retail Point-of-Sale program using funds from the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA’s) Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate (HEAR) Program, with an anticipated October 2024 launch. We kindly ask our current Single-Family contractors to complete this short survey aimed at gauging interest in participating in the HEAR Retail Point-of-Sale program.
Please Note: Completion of the survey will not automatically enroll contractors in this program.

New Customer Release Form Available

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Program/s:  Comfort Home
To:  All Comfort Home Contractors
Summary:  New Customer Release Form Available
Contact with Questions:   Comfort Home Operations Team at 1-888-406-4009 or ComfortHome@nyserda.ny.gov

Details: A revised Comfort Home customer release form is now available on the Comfort Home contractor SharePoint page and was emailed to all contractors on August 2, 2024.  This form may be used now and must be used effective August 26, 2024.  The new form includes updated release authorization language allowing NYSERDA to share project information with the customer’s utilities and Department of Public Service.  Release forms submitted on or after August 26, 2024, will need to use the new form.

Updated REA Customer Attestation Form

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Program/s: Residential Energy Assessment Program
To: All REA Contractors
Summary: Updated REA Customer Attestation Form – August 26, 2024
Contact with Questions: homeaudits@nyserda.ny.gov

Details:  A revised version of the REA Customer Attestation Form has been posted to the REA Contractor Website.  Enrollments submitted on or after August 26, 2024, will need to use the new attestation form.  The update includes a new release authorization allowing NYSERDA to share project information with the customer’s utilities and Department of Public Service as well as verbiage that participating contractors are independent contractors.