Con Edison and NYSERDA Heat Pump Incentives for NYC Homeowners
NYC homeowners in Con Edison territory can get help paying for a heat pump from two main places: the NYS Clean Heat program, which Con Edison runs for its customers, and NYSERDA programs such as EmPower+ for income-eligible households. Clean Heat incentives are claimed by a Con Edison Participating Contractor and taken off your invoice, and the amount depends on your home and on whether it is properly insulated and air sealed. The federal heat pump tax credit is no longer available for 2026 installations, so these state and utility programs now carry most of the weight. Amounts and rules change often, so treat this guide (current as of October 2026) as a map and confirm figures on the Con Edison and NYSERDA pages before you sign anything.
The short version: who offers what
| Program | Run by | Who it is for | How you get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYS Clean Heat (air-source heat pumps) | Con Edison, as part of the statewide Clean Heat program filed jointly with NYSERDA and the other utilities | Con Edison electric customers heating a home with a heat pump | Through a Con Edison Participating Contractor; the incentive appears on your invoice |
| Weather Ready (insulation, air sealing, duct sealing) | Con Edison | Single-family and 2-4 family homes; new construction and gut renovations are not eligible | The contractor does the work and subtracts the incentive from your final invoice |
| Heat pump water heater rebate | Con Edison | Customers buying a qualifying ENERGY STAR unit | Instant rebate at purchase |
| EmPower+ | NYSERDA | Households under 80% of state or area median income, or enrolled in certain assistance programs | Apply to NYSERDA; low-income homes can receive no-cost upgrades |
NYS Clean Heat through Con Edison: how it works
Clean Heat is the program most NYC homeowners will use for a whole-home or room-by-room heat pump, including ductless mini-splits. A few rules shape every project:
- You must use a Participating Contractor. Con Edison's heat pump page says customers need to work with an approved contractor to qualify. Under the Clean Heat program manual, only Participating Contractors can apply for space heating incentives, so you do not file the application yourself.
- The incentive shows up on your invoice. The manual says the incentive must appear on the customer's invoice and is paid to the contractor after the program approves the project. A project sold without the incentive on the invoice is not eligible, so check the paperwork before you sign.
- Pre-approval comes first. Con Edison projects need an allocation and pre-approval before installation, and the manual sets deadlines for finishing the work and submitting the application after that. Ask your contractor to confirm the pre-approval before any equipment goes in.
- A better-sealed home can unlock a higher tier. Con Edison's page describes a higher incentive level for homes that are properly insulated and air sealed. Your contractor helps determine which level a project qualifies for.
- Your electric service has to be adequate. Con Edison says customers must be deemed "service adequate" to participate. If your panel or service is too small, that has to be resolved as part of the project.
- One full-load incentive per home. Premises that have already received full-load incentives are not eligible for more.
We have deliberately left dollar amounts out of this section. Con Edison's own pages and program documents of different dates show different figures, and the program has operated under spending limits. Ask for the current amount for your specific home in writing, and check it against Con Edison's "Get Thousands Off an Air-Source Heat Pump" page.
What changed for 2026
The NYS Clean Heat 2026-2030 implementation plan, filed jointly by the utilities and NYSERDA, says the program will stop offering heat pump incentives for residential new construction. If you are building a new home, do not budget on a Clean Heat incentive. Existing one- to four-family homes remain the program's residential focus.
Weatherization first: the Weather Ready program
Because the higher Clean Heat tier is tied to an insulated, air-sealed home, the order of work matters. Con Edison's Weather Ready program offers incentives for insulation, air sealing and duct sealing in single-family and 2-4 family homes heated by Con Edison gas or electricity, or by delivered fuel with Con Edison electricity. New construction and gut renovations are not eligible. As with Clean Heat, the contractor does the work and subtracts the incentive from your final invoice.
There is also a practical reason to seal first: a tighter home loses less heat, which can mean a smaller heat pump and lower running costs. The trade-off is time. Weatherization adds a step, and if your old boiler or furnace is failing in January, you may not be able to wait.
NYSERDA EmPower+ for income-eligible households
EmPower+ is NYSERDA's program for lower- and moderate-income New Yorkers, and it covers renters and owners. According to NYSERDA, a household can qualify if its income is below 80% of the state or area median income (whichever is higher), or if it participates in a utility payment assistance program. Households receiving HEAP, SNAP, Supplemental Security Income or public assistance can qualify with an award letter dated within the past year.
- Low-income households can receive no-cost energy efficiency improvements up to a per-project cap.
- Moderate-income households can receive an incentive covering 50% of eligible costs, also up to a cap.
- Gas-heated homes: NYSERDA says EmPower+ will only install heat pumps for low-income natural gas customers who have been pre-approved for the Department of Public Service's Energy Affordability Guarantee pilot.
Caps and income limits depend on household size, county and region, so use NYSERDA's eligibility page to check your own figures. Market-rate homeowners who want help with air sealing and insulation can look at NYSERDA's Comfort Home program, which NYSERDA describes as a pilot.
Heat pump water heaters: a smaller, simpler rebate
If you are electrifying the whole house, the water heater is often the next step. As of October 2026, Con Edison's page lists a $1,500 instant rebate on qualifying ENERGY STAR heat pump water heaters up to 120 gallons bought between September 1 and November 30, 2026, and $1,300 outside that window. Unlike space heating incentives, this one does not require a Participating Contractor.
What about federal tax credits?
The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which covered up to $2,000 for a qualifying heat pump, does not apply to equipment installed in 2026. Be wary of any quote that still lists it as a saving. New York State and Con Edison programs are now where the money is.
Honest downsides to plan around
- Incentives are not guaranteed until approved. Funding, allocations and pre-approval decide whether your project gets the amount you were quoted.
- Your contractor choice is limited. To claim Clean Heat, you must hire a Participating Contractor, so check enrollment early.
- Paperwork and timing. Pre-approval and program deadlines add steps. A rushed emergency replacement may not fit the process.
- Co-ops and condos have extra layers. Board approval, building rules and separate multifamily programs can apply in larger buildings.
- The incentive is not the whole story. Running cost depends on your electricity rate, how well the home is sealed and how the system is sized. A large incentive on a poorly designed system is still a poor deal.
A simple checklist before you sign
- Confirm you are a Con Edison electric customer and note your 11-digit account number; it is used to check eligibility.
- Ask whether the contractor is a Con Edison Clean Heat Participating Contractor and which incentive tier your home qualifies for.
- Check that the incentive is shown as a line on the quote and invoice.
- Ask whether weatherization first would raise your incentive or let you use a smaller system.
- If your income may qualify, check NYSERDA EmPower+ before you sign a market-rate contract.
- Get pre-approval confirmed before installation starts.
Summit Air Heating & Cooling designs and installs heat pump and ductless mini-split systems for homes across New York City and New Jersey, and we can walk you through these questions for your home.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply for the Con Edison heat pump incentive myself?
No. For space heating heat pumps, only a Con Edison Participating Contractor can apply. The incentive then appears on your invoice.
Do I need to insulate my home to get a Con Edison heat pump incentive?
Not to qualify at all, but Con Edison describes a higher incentive tier for homes that are properly insulated and air sealed. Ask your contractor which tier applies.
Is the federal heat pump tax credit still available in 2026?
No. The federal heat pump credit does not cover equipment installed in 2026, so do not count on it in your budget.
Who qualifies for NYSERDA EmPower+?
Households with income below 80% of the state or area median income, or those in certain assistance programs such as HEAP or SNAP, can qualify. Check NYSERDA's eligibility page for your county.
Can I get a Clean Heat incentive for a new-build home?
Under the 2026-2030 Clean Heat plan, heat pump incentives for residential new construction are no longer offered.
Related services
Heat pump installation for NYC and New Jersey homes
Ductless mini-split installation
Financing options for heating and cooling upgrades
Talk to Summit Air about your heat pump project
Want to know what a heat pump could look like in your home, and which incentives to check before you commit? Book a free consultation with Summit Air Heating & Cooling. We will look at your home, explain your options plainly and give you a clear, written quote. Contact us to get started.
