All of New York · Grant
EmPower+
Run by NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)
Income-eligible New York owners and renters of one- to four-family homes get a no-cost home energy assessment and NYSERDA funding for air sealing, insulation, heat pumps, heat pump water heaters and electrical upgrades, free for low-income households and 50% of the cost for moderate-income households.
Amounts
How much you get
Low-income households get the full cost of eligible improvements covered, up to $12,000 per project upstate or $14,000 downstate. The amount depends on which of these fits your install.
| What you install | You get |
|---|---|
| Upstate (100% of cost)Low income | 100% |
| Downstate (100% of cost)Low income | 100% |
| Upstate (50% of cost)Moderate income | 50% |
| Downstate (50% of cost)Moderate income | 50% |
Eligibility
Do I qualify?
You need to meet all 7 of these.
Your home is in New York.
Household income below 80% of the State or Area Median Income, whichever is higher, or participation in a utility payment assistance program. Low-income incentives are for households at or below 60% of State or Area Median Income, whichever is greater. A HEAP, SNAP, TANF or SSI award letter from the past 12 months is enough proof of income. Limits vary by county and household size (NYSERDA's 2026 eligibility lookup).
One- to four-family homes. In a 2-4 family building, the whole building counts as income-eligible when at least half of its units are.
Owners and renters both qualify. Renters can get the assessment and limited direct-install measures on their own, but core efficiency work needs the building owner's approval, and the owner may need to contribute for moderate-income projects, heating replacements or work above the caps.
What to doRenters should ask the building owner to approve the work before the project starts.
Primary residence only; second homes are not eligible.
Work must be done by an EmPower+ participating contractor; you can pick one from the program list or have NYSERDA assign one.
What to doChoose a contractor from NYSERDA's EmPower+ contractor list, or let NYSERDA assign one after your application is approved.
Work already completed can't be funded. The application must be approved and the contractor's recommended improvements approved by EmPower+ before work starts.
What to doApply and wait for the EmPower+ project approval before any work is done.
Equipment
What equipment counts
Applying
How to apply
You apply online. Get approved before you buy anything.
- Gather income documents and your utility bills.
An award letter for HEAP, SNAP, TANF or SSI dated within 12 months, or paystubs/benefit letters, or your latest federal tax return; plus an itemized electric bill and a gas or fuel bill.
- Create a MyEnergy portal profile and submit the EmPower+ application.
A printable application can be mailed instead; online is faster. A Regional Clean Energy Hub can help.
- Get approved and matched with an EmPower+ contractor.
- The contractor does the free home energy assessment.
- The contractor submits recommended improvements to EmPower+ for review.
- After approval, the contractor explains the approved incentives and schedules the work.
Award letter for HEAP, SNAP, TANF or SSI dated within the past 12 months, or other proof of all household income
Itemized electric utility bill
Gas bill or heating fuel supplier bill
Forms and instructions, including for applying by mailEmPower+ Renters and 2-4 Family Households | NYSERDA · Frequently Asked Questions: EmPower+ | NYSERDA · EmPower+ Eligibility Guidelines | NYSERDA
Questions about applying866-NYSERDA
Stacking
Use it with
The Sustainable Futures Program and HEAR amounts are added on top of the EmPower+ caps. A household can only be in EmPower+ or the Appliance Upgrade Program at one time; after one project is finished it can apply to the other. NYSERDA's Residential Financing loans can cover the remaining cost.
All of New York
Appliance Upgrade Program
Up to $4,000
New Yorkers with household income up to 150% of area median income can get a coupon for up to $840 off an ENERGY STAR heat pump clothes dryer at participating retailers, plus up to $4,000 for an electrical panel upgrade and $2,500 for wiring done by a participating contractor.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
All of New York
On-Bill Recovery Loan
Amount varies
NYSERDA loans of $1,500 to $25,000 for solar panels, heat pumps and energy efficiency work on one- to four-family New York homes, repaid through your utility bill over 5, 10 or 15 years, with a balance that can pass to the next owner.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
All of New York
Smart Energy Loan
Amount varies
NYSERDA unsecured loans of $1,500 to $25,000 for solar panels, heat pumps and energy efficiency work on one- to four-family New York homes, repaid monthly by check or automatic payment over 5, 10 or 15 years.
Checked Oct 26, 2026
Your address
Next steps
Check that it covers your address. This program has to approve you before you buy anything, so start with the program, not a contractor quote.
Is it available at your address?
Before anything else
Choose a contractor from NYSERDA's EmPower+ contractor list, or let NYSERDA assign one after your application is approved.
Your quote request is in If a contractor we work with serves your ZIP, they can contact you. We take one request per person; contact us to change it.
Get an email if this program changes
We'll write if its amount, status or deadline changes. Nothing else.
FAQ
Questions
How much does EmPower+ pay?
Up to $14,000.
Is there an income limit?
Household income below 80% of the State or Area Median Income, whichever is higher, or participation in a utility payment assistance program. Low-income incentives are for households at or below 60% of State or Area Median Income, whichever is greater. A HEAP, SNAP, TANF or SSI award letter from the past 12 months is enough proof of income. Limits vary by county and household size (NYSERDA's 2026 eligibility lookup).
Do renters qualify?
Owners and renters both qualify. Renters can get the assessment and limited direct-install measures on their own, but core efficiency work needs the building owner's approval, and the owner may need to contribute for moderate-income projects, heating replacements or work above the caps. Renters should ask the building owner to approve the work before the project starts. Primary residence only; second homes are not eligible.
Do I have to use a contractor?
Yes. Work must be done by an EmPower+ participating contractor; you can pick one from the program list or have NYSERDA assign one.
Do I need approval before I buy?
Yes. Apply before you buy or install anything; purchases made first don’t qualify. Work already completed can't be funded. The application must be approved and the contractor's recommended improvements approved by EmPower+ before work starts. Apply and wait for the EmPower+ project approval before any work is done.
Can I combine it with other rebates?
Yes, with Appliance Upgrade Program, On-Bill Recovery Loan and Smart Energy Loan. See Use it with.
Is it still available?
Yes. It was open when we last checked, on October 26, 2026.
Can EmPower+ pay me back for work already done?
No. EmPower+ cannot fund work that has already been completed.
Will there be a lien on my home, or do I repay if I move?
No. There is no cost or future obligation when you complete your project through EmPower+.
Can I hire my own contractor?
No. You choose from the list of EmPower+ program contractors, or NYSERDA assigns one.
Can I get a heat pump if I heat with natural gas?
Only in limited cases. EmPower+ installs heat pumps for low-income natural gas customers only when they are pre-approved for the Department of Public Service's Energy Affordability Guarantee Pilot.
Does EmPower+ replace windows?
Only damaged ones. Window replacements must be part of a whole-house project that meets the program's cost-effectiveness rules.
What doesn't EmPower+ cover?
Generally major roof repairs or replacements, whole-house window or door replacements, and extensive repairs for water damage or other health and safety problems.
Plain words
Words used on this page
References
Sources
This page is built from these official pages, run by the program itself.
- EmPower+ | NYSERDA
- EmPower+ Renters and 2-4 Family Households | NYSERDA
- Frequently Asked Questions: EmPower+ | NYSERDA
- EmPower+ Eligibility Guidelines | NYSERDA
When one of these pages changes, we re-check this page against it.
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Checked Oct 26, 2026