Rebates are now available for low- and moderate-income New Yorkers to purchase energy-efficient appliances at participating retailers.

Through the state’s new Appliance Upgrade Program, point-of-sale appliance rebates allow customers to replace inefficient electric or fossil fuel-powered clothes dryers with clean heat-pump powered alternatives, and make associated electrical upgrades if needed.

New York State contractors are also eligible to enroll to participate and receive incentives for installations.

 The new program administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act through the federal Department of Energy’s Home Energy Rebate (HER) Programs.

The maximum rebates residents may qualify for depends on their income, the cost of the heat-pump clothes dryer, and any necessary electrical upgrades.

If a resident’s income is up to 80 percent of the area median income, a clothes dryer rebate is 100 percent of the cost up to $840, 100 percent of the electrical panel upgrade up to $4,000, and 100 percent of the electrical wiring upgrade up to $2,500.

If the resident’s income is between 80 and 150 percent of the area median income, the rebate drops to 50 percent for each of those costs.

 Albany County’s average median income is $64,535, according to the Capital District Regional Planning Commission, while Guilderland’s is $81,835, and the four-county Capital Region median income is $68,753. New York State’s is $68,486, according to the Census Bureau.

LG Electronics and Samsung are participating in the program statewide. NYSERDA’s website will be updated as additional retailers sign up.

Retailers and contractors must enroll and have signed participation agreements to accept the rebates upon customer purchase and installation. Participating contractors installing the program measures will also be eligible for installation incentives of up to $500 per dwelling unit, which includes a $200-per-dwelling unit incentive for projects located in disadvantaged communities. 

 To assist consumers, NYSERDA’s Regional Clean Energy Hubs will be engaged to help low- to moderate-income households apply for appliance incentives including the ability to submit applications on behalf of customers.

 NYSERDA has created the MyEnergy portal, a one-stop shop for information on state and federal incentives and rebates, home energy technologies and services, participating retailers and qualified contractors to help implement home improvement projects, and NYSERDA’s Regional Clean Energy Hubs with local experts who can provide support to customers.