EmPower+

Main Phone
877-697-6278

Primary Services
Residential Energy/Water Conservation Rebates, Residential Energy/Water Conservation Systems/Devices, Weatherization Programs

Description
Helps low and moderate income households save energy and money toward energy improvements made to their property.

Through EmPower+:
- Households can receive a no cost comprehensive home energy assessment to pinpoint where energy and dollars are being wasted and receive a customized plan to lower energy usage.
- No-cost direct install improvements identified during the assessment can be installed by participating program contractors.
- Households can receive financial discounts on the cost of energy efficiency improvements.

Program is open to income-eligible owners and renters of 1-4 family households. Low-income, single-family households are eligible for no-cost energy efficiency improvements capped at $10,000 per project. Moderate-income single-family households are eligible for a discount of up to 50% of the cost of eligible work capped at $5,000 per project. Renters will need to have landlord/building owner permission to take advantage of core energy efficiency improvements through EmPower+.

Customers can apply for low-interest financing through NYSERDA’s Residential Financing offers. Additional information on financing options can be found here: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Residential-Financing-Options

Eligible households can receive incentives toward the following prioritized core energy efficiency improvements including:
- Attic, wall, and rim joist insulation
- Air-sealing to reduce drafts
- Health & safety items
- Mobile-home underbelly insulation
- Replacement of inefficient refrigerator/freezer units

For homes that have had air sealing and insulation completed, contractors can make recommendations to upgrade other equipment including:
- Cold climate air source heat pump
- Heat pump hot water tank
- High efficiency gas heating upgrades (Household should be evaluated for heatpumps first)

Hours
Application available online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Eligibility
Homeowners and renters must meet income requirements to qualify for EmPower+. You may be eligible if you can answer "yes" to these statements:
- My household income is below 80 percent of the State/Area Median Income or lower
OR
- I reside in a single family home located in a geographically eligible territory
OR
- I participate in a utility payment assistance program

For specific income eligibility requirements for your county and household size, see: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/EmPower-New-York-Program/Eligibility-Guidelines

Service Area: NYS.

Intake Process
Complete and submit an EmPower+ Application, available here: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/EmPower-New-York-Program/EmPower-Application

As part of the application process, you can select a trained and experienced participating program contractor: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ny/ahp-empower/Contractors

You can either fill out and submit your application online (see first link above) or request online (see same link) to receive a copy of the application by mail. If you choose to return your application by mail, send to:
CLEAResult
8 Southwoods Blvd
Suite 201
Albany, NY 12211

Following the approval of your EmPower+ Application, the household will be qualified as either low-income or moderate-income eligible. Your contractor will reach out and schedule the home energy assessment, which identifies opportunities for energy efficiency improvements in the home, including any that can be installed at the time of the assessment at no charge to you.

Within two weeks of the home energy assessment, a report of findings will be presented by the contractor to the household identifying ways to save energy. The contractor will develop a workscope based on assessment findings and provide to the Empower+ Program for approval. Following approval, the contractor will review the workscope with you, discuss out of pocket expenses (if any), and install the approved energy efficiency improvements.

Program Fees
No cost for home energy assessment and any energy efficiency improvements that can be installed at the time of the assessment. There may be some out of pocket expenses for additional energy efficiency improvements detailed in the workscope, based on assessment findings.

Date of Official Change
Jul 27, 2023

Contacts
Contact Email (Primary)
info.residential@nyserda.ny.gov