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Tag: EmPower+

Funding through NYSERDA’s On-the-Job Training Program

Program/s: NYSERDA Residential Programs
To: Participating Contractors
Summary: Funding through NYSERDA’s On-the-Job Training Program
Contact with Questions:  PONOJT@nyserda.ny.gov

NYSERDA Offers On-the-Job Training Funding to Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy Businesses

Through the NYSERDA On-the-Job Training Program, NYSERDA is reducing costs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and other clean energy businesses  to recruit, hire, and train new employees.

Funding up to $11,000 per new hire is available. Higher incentive levels are available to employers hiring members of priority populations and disadvantaged communities, as identified by the New York Climate Justice Working Group. Of this total funding, $1,000  is issued to employers whose new employees earn an eligible industry certification.

Learn more about eligibility requirements, how to apply, and information regarding monthly virtual office hours on NYSERDA’s website: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/On-the-Job-Training-Program

For full program details and eligibility requirements, please review the Program Summary.

Have questions? Contact PONOJT@nyserda.ny.gov

Thank you,

Shannon Richardson

Updated HEAP Guidelines

Program/s: EmPower+
To: Residential Contractors
Summary: Updated HEAP Guidelines
Contact with Questions:  NYS OTDA Hotline: 1 (800) 342-3009

2026- 2027 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

The New York State Home Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded program that assists eligible low-income households in meeting their home energy needs.

Component Program Dates

ComponentOpening DateClosing Date*
RegularNovember 2, 2026April 16, 2027
EmergencyJanuary 4, 2027April 16, 2027
CoolingApril 15, 2027June 4, 2027
Clean & TuneOctober 1, 2026April 16, 2027
HERROctober 1, 2026April 16, 2027

*All closing dates may be shortened or extended depending on demand and available funding.

Income Guidelines

household sizetier 1tier 2
10-1,7291,730-3,563
20-2,3442,345-4,659
30-2,9592,960-5,756
40-3,5753,576-6,852
50-4,1904,191-7,948
60-4,8054,806-9,045
70-5,4215,422-9,250
80-6,0366,037-9,456
90-6,6516,652-9,662
100-7,2677,268-9,867
110-7,8827,883-10,073
120-8,4978,498-10,278
130-9,1139,114-10,515
14++615+710

**Amount increased per additional household member.

Benefit Amounts

Regular Component Base heater***emergency Component
Oil, Kerosene & Propane $990Oil, Kerosene & Propane $990
Wood, Pellets, Coal & Corn $700Wood, Pellets, Coal & Corn $700
Natural Gas or Electric Heat $400Heat Related Domestic $185
Combined Natural Gas & Electric $585
Electric Heat $585
Natural Gas $400
  • Households whose income falls within Tier I will receive a $61 add-on to the base Regular benefit.
  • Households with a vulnerable member (under age 6, age 60 or older, or permanently disabled) will receive a $35 add-on.
  • Households may receive both add-ons, if eligible, for a total increase of $96 to the base Regular benefit.
  • HERR will no longer be limited to applicants age 60 and older
  • Clean and Tune will operate as normal for the 2026-2027 program year

Heat Included Benefits

Tier I – $50
Tier II – $45
Heat & Eat – $21

General Information Regarding HEAP

NYS OTDA Hotline: 1 (800) 342-3009
Program Information: https://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap
Online Application for upstate: www.mybenefits.ny.gov
NYC online application: https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/login

No-Heat Season Installation Expectations

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors
Summary: No-Heat Season Installation Expectations
Questions: If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support

The 2026-2027 No-Heat season began October 1, 2026 and ends April 15, 2027, or until funding is no longer available. As a reminder, EmPower+ may only be used as a last resort option for no-heat emergencies where the homeowner has already exhausted all other public assistance options to obtain a functioning heating system.

Contractors are expected to complete No-Heat emergency installations within seven calendar days of workscope approval. Installation delays should be noted on the NYHEP enrollment and include an explanation for the delay and the anticipated installation date.

If prompt submission does not occur, outreach will be conducted to the contractor requesting the information. Enrollments not moving through NYHEP in a timely manner, or not responding to outreach requests, may cause the enrollment to lose No-Heat status or the project may be reassigned to another contractor for completion.

If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support or call 800-284-9069

Staff Hours for Thanksgiving

Program/s: EmPower+ and Comfort Home
To: Participating Contractors
Summary: Staff Hours for Thanksgiving
Contact with Questions: See below

NYSERDA wishes you and your family a happy and safe Thanksgiving. Please see below for EmPower+ and Comfort Home program staff and implementation staff hours for the upcoming holiday.

NYSERDA: Closed on Thursday, November 26th with limited staffing on Friday, November 27th.

CLEAResult: Closed Thursday, November 26th and Friday, November 27th.

TRC Call Center: Closed Thursday, November 26th and open Friday, November 27th

  • Note: EmPower+ application processing is closed on Thursday and Friday.

Participating Contractors working in the field in need of emergency approval may contact Sarah Knoell (518-207-4527) on Thursday, November 26th and Katherine Prior (774-635-9884) on Friday, November 27th.

For non-urgent matters, contact Contractor Support or (800) 284-9069; requests will be returned following the holiday in the order they were received.

The 1-866-NYSERDA /1-877-NYSMART number will not be staffed on Thursday, November 26th, but will be open for regular hours on Friday, November 27th.

With the holiday, there will only be one EmPower+ incentive invoice processed during the week of November 23. Incentive invoicing processing will return to twice per week beginning the week of November 30.  Comfort Home will process a weekly invoice on Wednesday, November 25 as usual.

Updates to EAG Pilot Page

Program/s: EmPower+
To: Residential Contractors
Summary: Updates to EAG Pilot Page
Contact with Questions: support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov

The Department of Public Service has provided additional materials to the Energy Affordability Guarantee web page on the Contractor Support site:

  • A Q&A summary from the July BPCA meeting
  • Two form letters that contractors can provide to new or partially electrified Tier 1 customers.

NYSERDA’s EmPower+ team encourages contractors to use these materials in their outreach to prospective EAG participants.