PROGRAM SNAPSHOT

EmPower+ is open to eligible households.

The program serves income-eligible owners and renters in one- to four-family primary residences. Its assessment identifies improvements appropriate for the home.

NYSERDA: EmPower+ and available incentives · Checked 2026-09-05

Use the current household income lookup.

Check NYSERDA’s 2026 eligibility tool using your county and household size. Requirements vary with household circumstances, so a single income number for all of New York would be misleading.

Start there whether the property is in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, or a downstate county. Use the official application process for the documents needed to verify eligibility.

NYSERDA: 2026 income eligibility · Source checked 2026-09-05

An energy assessment comes first.

EmPower+ supports a comprehensive home energy assessment. Core improvements such as insulation, air sealing, and health-and-safety work take priority. Once weatherization needs are addressed, a contractor can recommend heating and cooling upgrades.

Ask which part of the proposed project is a prerequisite for a heat pump and which part is optional. That distinction helps you compare the full scope of competing estimates.

NYSERDA: EmPower+ and available incentives · Source checked 2026-09-05

Keep the funding pathways separate.

The current EmPower+ page lists state Sustainable Futures Program heat-pump support separately from general efficiency assistance and federal HEAR measures. These are not one universal rebate.

Ask your participating contractor to show which funding source covers each measure and the amount approved for your home. Do not add every published ceiling together to estimate an award.

NYSERDA: EmPower+ and available incentives · Source checked 2026-09-05

Apply through NYSERDA, then confirm the work.

Use the official EmPower+ application route and follow the program’s instructions for a participating contractor and assessment. NYSERDA says online applications are processed more quickly than paper submissions.

If you are renting, review the landlord requirements before scheduling improvements. Keep your application and project correspondence so you can verify what was approved and which work is included.

NYSERDA: EmPower+ application questions · Source checked 2026-09-05

Prepare for the installation conversation.

Write down your current heating fuel, equipment age if known, and which rooms are uncomfortable. Ask the contractor to explain system sizing, duct or electrical work, and any remaining payment. Request equipment model numbers and a clear installation scope rather than comparing quotes by the rebate headline alone.

Common question

Does submitting an inquiry reserve $10,000?

No. The published maximum is not an individual award. A Temperaly request does not submit an EmPower+ application or reserve funding. Use NYSERDA’s official process and obtain confirmation for your specific project.