What is EmPower+ in NYC and what does it cover?

EmPower+ NYC is NYSERDA’s income-based program that pays for home energy upgrades for qualifying New York City households, often at no cost. It starts with a free home energy assessment, then covers direct-install fixes plus larger work such as air sealing, insulation, electrical upgrades, heat pump water heaters, and air-source heat pumps for heating and cooling. For income-eligible families, the program can cover most or all of a qualifying project, which makes it the single largest source of savings on a heat pump in the five boroughs.

It is separate from Con Edison Clean Heat. EmPower+ is based on your household income; Clean Heat is open to any Con Edison customer regardless of income. If you qualify for EmPower+, you usually save more.

Who qualifies for EmPower+ in New York City?

The program is open to income-eligible owners and renters of one- to four-family homes. Eligibility is set by household income compared to the Area Median Income (AMI), and all five boroughs use the same NYC income limits. A household qualifies one of two ways:

• Automatic (categorical) eligibility: if anyone in the home receives HEAP, SNAP (food stamps), TANF, or Supplemental Security Income, a copy of the award letter dated within the last 12 months qualifies you with no other income paperwork.
• Income eligibility: if your gross household income falls at or below the program limit for your household size. A family of four in any NYC borough can qualify with income up to roughly $129,600.

Renters can apply too. The tenant starts the application and the eligibility check, but the landlord must give written permission before any improvements are installed.

NYC income limits by household size (approximate)

Limits change each year, so confirm the current figure for your household size before you apply. If you receive a qualifying benefit, you can skip the income math entirely.

How much does EmPower+ pay toward a heat pump in NYC?

NYC is in NYSERDA’s downstate region, which has higher caps than upstate. The amount depends on which income tier you land in:

• Low-income, single-family households: no-cost energy efficiency improvements capped at $14,000 per project downstate.
• Moderate-income, single-family households: an incentive covering 50% of the project cost, capped at $7,000 per project downstate.

Those caps apply to the efficiency scope of work. Heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, insulation, air sealing, and electrical service upgrades are all eligible measures, so a low-income household can often get a ductless or ducted heat pump installed with little to no out-of-pocket cost. A moderate-income household pays roughly half, up to the cap.

What upgrades does EmPower+ include?

The program is designed to treat the whole home, not just one appliance. A typical NYC scope includes:

• A no-cost comprehensive home energy assessment that pinpoints where the home wastes energy.
• No-cost direct-install items found during the assessment, such as LED lighting and basic air sealing.
• Insulation and air sealing, which a brownstone or older brick home in NYC almost always needs.
• Air-source heat pump installation for efficient heating and cooling.
• Heat pump water heaters and, where needed, electrical panel or service upgrades to support the new equipment.

Pairing insulation with a heat pump matters in NYC. A tighter, better-insulated home lets you install a smaller, cheaper heat pump that still keeps up on the coldest January nights. See our guide on how cold-climate heat pumps perform in NYC winters.

How do you apply for EmPower+ in NYC?

The fastest route is online. The steps are straightforward:

• Set up a MyEnergy profile through NYSERDA and start the EmPower+ application, or download the printable application and mail it in.
• Submit proof of eligibility: either a HEAP, SNAP, TANF, or SSI award letter, or income documents such as tax returns or recent pay stubs, plus a copy of a utility bill.
• A participating EmPower+ contractor schedules and performs the free home energy assessment.
• The contractor submits recommended improvements to NYSERDA for review and approval.
• Approved work is installed, and the program pays its share directly so you only owe your portion, if any.

Renters add one step: written landlord permission before installation. Owners of two- to four-family homes follow the same path and can treat the whole building as the project.

How long does EmPower+ take in NYC?

Plan for weeks, not days. Because the program requires a home energy assessment and NYSERDA review before any work starts, a typical EmPower+ project runs from a few weeks to a couple of months from application to installation. The timeline depends on how quickly you submit documents, how busy participating contractors are, and the size of the scope. The fastest applicants set up the MyEnergy profile, upload a benefit award letter or income proof and a utility bill on day one, and book the assessment as soon as eligibility clears. If you need heat or cooling urgently, that lead time is the main reason some NYC homeowners choose Con Edison Clean Heat instead.

Common reasons NYC applications stall

• Missing or expired documents. A HEAP, SNAP, TANF, or SSI award letter must be dated within the last 12 months.
• No landlord permission. Renters cannot have work installed until the owner signs off in writing.
• Starting work early. Equipment bought or installed before approval is not covered.
• Using a non-participating contractor. Only approved EmPower+ contractors can submit the project.

Are heat pumps a good fit for NYC apartments and small homes?

For most NYC homes, yes. Ductless mini splits suit apartments, brownstones, and row houses because they need no ductwork, only a small wall penetration for refrigerant lines and a compact outdoor condenser. Each indoor head is zoned, so you heat or cool only the rooms you use, which keeps Con Edison bills down. Modern cold-climate models hold their output well below freezing, so a properly sized system keeps a NYC apartment comfortable through January. The key is right-sizing the equipment to a home that EmPower+ has already air-sealed and insulated, which is exactly why the program treats the whole house rather than just swapping equipment.

EmPower+ vs Con Edison Clean Heat: which should you use?

If your income qualifies, start with EmPower+ because it usually covers far more of the cost. Con Edison Clean Heat is the right path if you are over the income limits, since it is open to all Con Edison customers. You cannot claim both programs for the same piece of equipment, but you can sometimes use one program for the heat pump and another for weatherization. We break this down in EmPower+ vs Con Edison Clean Heat for NYC homes, and you can also review the federal angle in our post on stacking IRA tax credits with NYS Clean Heat rebates.

EmPower+ NYC frequently asked questions

Does EmPower+ cover central air conditioning?

It covers air-source heat pumps, which provide both heating and cooling, so you get efficient air conditioning as part of the same system. Cooling-only equipment such as standalone window units is not the focus of the program.

Can I qualify if I already have a heat pump?

You can still qualify for other covered measures such as insulation, air sealing, a heat pump water heater, or electrical upgrades. The assessment identifies what your home needs, so an existing heat pump does not rule you out of the rest of the program.

What if I live in a building with more than four units?

EmPower+ for individual households covers one- to four-family homes. Larger buildings are served through NYSERDA and Con Edison multifamily programs, where the building owner or board applies. If you own a unit in a co-op or condo, see our guide on Con Edison Clean Heat for co-ops and condos.

Is there a cost for the home energy assessment?

No. The comprehensive home energy assessment is free, and many basic improvements found during it are direct-installed at no cost regardless of which tier you fall into.

How do I prove my income if I do not get a benefit?

Submit recent tax returns or pay stubs for everyone in the household, plus a copy of a utility bill. If you receive HEAP, SNAP, TANF, or SSI, the award letter alone replaces all of that.

The bottom line for NYC homeowners and renters

EmPower+ NYC is the best place to start if money is tight and you want a heat pump or a more efficient, comfortable home. Income-eligible households can get up to $14,000 in upgrades at no cost downstate, including a heat pump, while moderate-income households pay about half up to $7,000. The process begins with a free assessment, and a qualifying benefit letter can fast-track your eligibility. If you want help confirming whether you qualify and scoping the right system for your home, AirSync HVAC works with NYC homeowners and renters across all five boroughs. Start with a home energy assessment and we will map out which programs save you the most.