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Tag: Guidelines

Updated EmPower NY Pricing and Fuel Rates

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To: Contractors and Stakeholders
Regarding Programs: EmPower New York & Assisted Home Performance
Summary: Updated EmPower NY Pricing and Fuel Rates
Contact: Please contact your Account Manager

EmPower NY pricing was reviewed and updated to reflect changes to several variables including national inflation and consumer price index (CPI) data, market price research, supplier letters detailing price increases. The updated list can be found in the Program Manual on the Contractor Support site.

Fuel rates have been updated and posted on the Contractor Support website in the Program Manual. They are based on a three-year average and for cost effectiveness calculations, NYSERDA uses volumetric charges including supply (commodity), transmission and distribution, and other charges applied based on the supply volume. The updated fuel rates were also posted in the Program Manual.

Eligible Measure List Updates

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To: Contractors and Stakeholders
Regarding Programs: EmPower New York & Assisted Home Performance
Summary: Eligible Measure List Updates
Contact: Please contact your Account Manager

Several updates were made to Section 5.15 EmPower NY & Assisted Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Eligible Measures List in the Program Manual. Significant changes are noted below. A full list of changes was shared on the Single Family Residential Program Update Contractor Check In Call on March 3, 2022.

  • Replacement Windows
    • Incentivized only in situations where window glass is broken or missing, and repair is not a feasible option. A photo of each existing window proposed for replacement must be included with the project’s workscope submission.
  • Heating/DHW System Repair/Upgrades including CAZ Corrections
    • Measures for Heating/DHW System Repairs/Upgrades and Combustion Appliance Zone (CAZ) Correction were combined into a single measure.
    • Maximum incentives: Tier 1 $500, Tier 3 $250. Cap exceptions may be considered with a Heating Equipment Repair or Replacement (HERR) denial or implementation staff has determined the project ineligible for HERR.
  • Heat Pump Water Heaters
    • Heat Pump Water Heaters (HPWH) should be installed in accordance with manufacturer’s installation guidelines and contractors should use their professional discretion when citing them.
    • HPWH equipment may operate differently than the existing equipment in a home and customer expectations should be set accordingly. They need to be made aware of and agree to the proposed location, manufacturers installation specifications and overall operation of the proposed HPWH.

BPI new certifications and Program requirements

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To: Contractors
Regarding Programs: All Residential Programs
Summary: BPI new certifications and Program requirements
Contact: Please reach out to your account manager

Building Performance Institute (BPI) will be replacing the BPI Building Analyst (BA) and BPI Envelope Professional certifications with the BPI Building Analyst Technician (BA-T) and the BPI Building Analyst Professional (BA-P) in early 2023.

Due to these changes, starting January 1, 2023, NYSERDA’s Single Family Residential Programs will continue to accept the BPI BA and Envelope certifications until the certification’s expiration date. When an individual’s certifications expire, they will be required to hold one of the BPI certifications listed in the program manual to perform energy assessments and BA-P will replace BPI Envelope as the requirement for a contractor to do building shell work.

BPI will be providing an additional overview of their certification changes on NYSERDA’s January 6th contractor call.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your account manager.

Refrigerator/Freezer Deliveries

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To: Contractors and Stakeholders
Regarding Programs: EmPower New York & Assisted Home Performance
Summary: Refrigerator/Freezer Deliveries
Contact: If you have any questions, please reach out to your account manager or contact us at [email protected].

When discussing no-cost refrigerators/freezer replacements with EmPower households, Participating Contractors should make their customers aware at the time of the energy assessment that the delivery of refrigerators/freezers could be delayed.

Program staff have been informed by Participating Vendors that supply chain issues are impacting the availability of certain makes and models of refrigerators/freezers. In some cases, it could take 2 to 6 months before the vendor receives the unit from the manufacturer.

Participating Contractors should set expectations with the household that appliances may be delayed. If a household reaches out to a Participating Contractor regarding their appliance delivery, please remind the customer of the delays discussed above. If the appliance was ordered more than 90 days ago, the household can request additional information regarding their appliance by calling the customer support line 1-877-697-6278. If you have any questions, please reach out to your account manager or contact us at [email protected].

NYSERDA will be reinstating the 120-day completion goal

To: Participating AHP and EmPower Contractors
Regarding Programs: AHP and EmPower New York
Summary: NYSERDA will be reinstating the 120-day completion goal.
Contact: [email protected]; Questions can also be addressed with your account manager

In March of 2020, in response to COVID-19 and the statewide work pause, NYSERDA suspended Program project deadlines. Following the return to work, contractors still faced scheduling conflicts and supply chain issues, so NYSERDA kept the completion deadline suspension in place. NYSERDA is looking to gradually reinstate project completion deadlines to ensure projects are closed out in a timely manner. Related to this, CLEAResult has been reaching out to contractors to have them prioritize their work in progress projects and close out any old projects that won’t be moving forward.

Starting January 1, 2023, the Program will reinstate the 120-day project completion goal. Please review the following dates for Project completion submission:

  • Projects started before January 1, 2022, will need to be completed by January 1, 2023.
  • Projects started before January 1, 2023, will need to be completed by May 1, 2023.
  • Projects started after January 1, 2023, should be completed within the 120-day period used in the past.

We understand that there may be instances where a project cannot be completed within the timeframes referenced above. Contractors should document in the project notes in Uplight if that is the case.

For any questions, please reach out to your account manager or [email protected].