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Rebate · NYSERDA · New York

NYSERDA Clean Heat — Air Source Heat Pump

$1,000–$2,000 per ton of capacity

NYSERDA Clean Heat is New York's flagship statewide heat pump rebate program — among the most generous in the United States. The air-source heat pump (ASHP) track pays $1,000 to $2,000 per ton of installed capacity (1 ton = 12,000 BTU/hr cooling), with higher rates in Con Edison territory and lower-income tracts. The program is administered jointly by NYSERDA and the major investor-owned utilities (Con Edison, National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E, Central Hudson, Orange & Rockland). Ground-source heat pumps qualify under a separate, higher-paying track. Equipment must be on the NEEP Cold Climate ASHP list to qualify for the full rebate — a meaningful constraint in upstate New York where deep-cold performance matters.

Eligibility

Who qualifies?

New York residential customers of participating utilities. No income cap on base Clean Heat rate. Affordable Multifamily and EmPower NY tracks add income-qualified bonuses.

Equipment requirement?

Must be on the NEEP Cold Climate ASHP list with HSPF2 ratings meeting NYSERDA thresholds. Most major brands (Mitsubishi Hyper-Heat, LG, Daikin Aurora, Trane) have qualifying models.

Whole-home vs partial?

Whole-home installs (full displacement of fossil fuel heating) receive higher per-ton rates than partial-displacement (heat pump as supplement to existing furnace).

How to apply for NYSERDA Clean Heat ASHP

  1. Find an enrolled contractor

    Use the contractor directory at cleanheatconnects.com. NYSERDA-enrolled contractors handle the rebate paperwork directly.

  2. Get a quote with rebate applied

    Contractor identifies eligible equipment and applies the per-ton rebate as a price reduction in the quote.

  3. Reserve rebate at contract

    Contractor submits Clean Heat reservation through the utility administrator portal. Reservation locks the current incentive level.

  4. Install

    Standard ASHP installation 1–3 days. Permit and inspection per local jurisdiction.

  5. Discount applied at invoice

    Rebate appears as a line-item discount on the contractor invoice. The utility pays the contractor directly.

Stacking with other programs

Stacks with federal 25C ($2,000 sub-cap), NY State Tax Credit (does not apply to heat pumps directly but stacks with related solar), and HEEHRA for income-qualified. Total stack on $14,000 ASHP can reach $6,500–$14,500 (with HEEHRA).

Frequently asked questions

Does Clean Heat stack with HEEHRA? +
Yes — Clean Heat reduces cost; HEEHRA may apply to income-qualified households on top. They target slightly different cost components.
How much does a 3-ton system net in Buffalo? +
NYSERDA Clean Heat ~$4,500. Federal 25C 30% = $2,000 cap. On a $14,000 install, that is $6,500 in incentives.
Cold-climate equipment requirement — strict? +
Yes. Equipment must be on the NEEP Cold Climate ASHP list. Otherwise rebate drops to lower tier or zero. Confirm equipment model with contractor before contract.
What about Con Edison vs National Grid? +
Each utility administers Clean Heat with slightly different per-ton rates. Con Edison territory typically pays the most. Statewide minimum applies.

Official program page: https://cleanheatconnects.com/

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