Tag: EmPower+

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Contractors
Summary: UPDATED – Rental Property Energy Efficiency Services Agreement 
Questions: If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support

An updated version of the Rental Property Energy Efficiency Services Agreement was published to Contractor Support Site on April 1, 2026. The current version can be located here. The updates include clearer language regarding penalties for the default of the agreement per the below:

“Upon default of this Agreement, NYSERDA will be entitled to a refund from the Owner of all monies paid hereunder.  Additionally, NYSERDA will require the disclosure of the Tenants’ name and contact information and the payment of a mandatory legal penalty in an amount not to exceed two times the amount of funding received through the applicable program. NYSERDA will distribute these funds among the tenant’s pro rata which the tenants can use for attorney’s fees or other mitigative measures. If NYSERDA is unable to recover these funds via a demand letter, State Law authorizes NYSERDA to refer collection matters to the Attorney General. See Exec. L. 1; Public Authorities Law § 1858.”

Signed copies of the previous version of the agreement will be accepted through May 30, 2026.  Please start using the current version of the agreement effective immediately.

If there are any questions, please reach out to support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov or call (800)-284-9069.

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Contractors
Summary: HERR Benefit and NFG No-Heat Program Closure
Questions: If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support

As of April 10, 2026, the 2025-26 Heating Equipment Repair and Replacement (HERR) benefit has closed. Additionally, on April 17, 2026, National Fuel Gas (NFG) ended their No Heat Program. Customers can receive services through Empower+ by providing the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) denial letter.

NYSERDA’s No-Heat season will still end May 31, 2026, or when funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. The funding tracker is located on the No-Heat Resources page of the Contractor Support site.

If there are any questions, please reach out to support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov or call (800)-284-9069.

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Contractors
Summary: Service Territory Update
Questions: If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support

Since April 2025, contractors have been limited to serving the North Country, Capital, Hudson Valley, and New York City Regions. Effective immediately, the territory restrictions for new and existing contractors are being lifted. Contractors can now request to add any territory, but they will be required to provide a business plan illustrating how they plan to serve the requested territory.

If there are any questions, please reach out to support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov or call (800)-284-9069.

Program/s: EmPower+ 
To: EmPower+ Participating Contractors
Summary: Quarterly Certification Audit – Find-A-Contractor Site
Questions: Elizabeth.Lazarou@nyserda.ny.gov

To ensure our records are current, we are conducting a quarterly review of EmPower+ Participating Contractor certifications. We ask that you take a moment to review your information on the EmPower+ site on behalf of your company, and respond with any changes by May 14th.

Per Section 5.5 of the Program Manual:

“The participating contractor shall provide NYSERDA written documentation identifying each certified individual and copies of their certifications. This is inclusive of staff who will be onsite in a customer’s home and not office staff or other support staff not at project locations. As an ongoing requirement, the participating contractor shall immediately inform the Program of any change to the list of certified staff.”

If there are any questions or if you need to provide updated certification information, please contact Elizabeth.Lazarou@nyserda.ny.gov. 

Program/s: EmPower+
To: EmPower+ Contractors
Summary: EmPower+ incentives for PSEG customers
Questions: If there are any questions, please contact Contractor Support

Starting May 18, 2026, the total amount of incentives received from PSEG Home Comfort and Home Performance programs for Low- and Moderate-income customers will be deducted from the EmPower+ downstate incentive caps of $14,000 for low-income households and $7,000 for moderate income households.

When proposing a project for PSEG customers, the contractor will be required to supply the awards letter or letters for the Home Comfort and Home Performance Programs when submitting documents to NYHEP. The contractor should also include the PSEG incentive amounts in the utility section of the individual measure. NYHEP will then deduct these amounts from the possible incentive. This deduction in incentive will not affect the $14,000 IRA project cap. The contractor support site will have a copy of an April 3 webinar detailing how these incentives will be applied.

On April 21st there was a joint PSEG/NYSERDA webinar to review the new program rules and answer questions

If there are any questions, please reach out to support.residential@nyserda.ny.gov or call (800)- 284-9069.