ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Gov. Kathy Hochul announced new rebates for low-income New Yorkers buying energy-efficient appliances. They're part of the state’s new Appliance Upgrade Program, which she said will be the first of its kind in the nation.
Retail rebates at the point of sale should make it easier to upgrade outdated technology with new versions that are clean, green, and energy-saving. Specifically, the program will cover replacing old fossil fuel clothes dryers with Energy Star-certified heat pump models. The new dryers and washer-dryer combo units in the program can save up to 70% of energy costs, according to Hochul's announcement.
Federal Inflation Reduction Act funds fuel the program, costing about $317.4 million. It gives rebates to households who make up to 150% of the state’s area median income (AMI). Participants can also get rebates for electrical upgrades like wiring or panel replacements to cut costs and emissions further.
Households can get as much as $14,000 in combined incentives for appliance and electrical upgrades. Plus, contractors who enroll can receive incentives for installing new appliances—up to $500 per dwelling.
Across the state, local stores and contractors across the state are already participating:
Go to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's MyEnergy portal to apply for a rebate, find participating contractors, and track your rebate status.
Hochul said that the Appliance Upgrade Program will expand in 2025 to cover more clean energy technology and to let owners of low-income multifamily buildings apply for rebates.
AMI represents the midpoint of an area’s income distribution, calculated every year by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD bases it on a four-person household and calls it MFI, or median family income. For fiscal year 2024 in New York, HUD tallied the total MFI at $105,200. In metro areas, they figured $107,400, compared to $83,500 in nonmetropolitan portions of the state.
