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New York Energy Resource Bureau
An independent homeowner guide to NY energy incentives
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Appliance Upgrade Program (NYSERDA)

Administered by: New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Status: Active in 2026 Verified: May 27, 2026 against Appliance Upgrade Program, NYSERDA Source quality: Primary

What it is

The Appliance Upgrade Program is a NYSERDA rebate that pays for an ENERGY STAR certified heat pump clothes dryer and the electrical work needed to run it. Heat pump dryers are closed-loop electric dryers that use a refrigeration cycle instead of a vented heating element, so they pull less power and don't need an outside vent. The program is open to income-eligible households across all 62 New York counties.

The rebate covers the dryer purchase and, where required, the electrical panel and wiring work to support it. If you are replacing an electric-resistance dryer, you can usually install the new unit yourself. If you are replacing a gas dryer, the swap typically needs a participating contractor because the gas line has to be capped and a 240V circuit run.

The program covers heat pump clothes dryers. It does not cover induction ranges, induction cooktops, heat pump water heaters, or space-heating heat pumps. Those sit under other NYSERDA programs (see section 5).

Who qualifies

  • New York State residents in households at or below 150% of Area Median Income (AMI), split into two tiers:
    • 0–80% AMI (lower-income tier)
    • 80–150% AMI (moderate-income tier)
  • Income limits vary by county and household size. NYSERDA's online calculator on the program page determines your tier.
  • Homeowners and renters both qualify. Renters need a signed Building Owner Attestation from their landlord before applying.
  • The program is statewide.

What you get

Two coupon codes are issued by email after your application is approved: one for the dryer, one for any electrical work. Rebate caps depend on your income tier.

Heat pump clothes dryer:

  • 0–80% AMI: 100% of the qualified project cost, up to $840
  • 80–150% AMI: 50% of the qualified project cost, up to $840

Electrical panel upgrade:

  • 0–80% AMI: 100% of the qualified project cost, up to $4,000
  • 80–150% AMI: 50% of the qualified project cost, up to $4,000

Electrical wiring upgrade (dedicated 240V circuit):

  • 0–80% AMI: 100% of the qualified project cost, up to $2,500
  • 80–150% AMI: 50% of the qualified project cost, up to $2,500

The dryer coupon is redeemed at a participating retailer at checkout. The electrical coupons are redeemed through a participating contractor.

How to apply

  1. Confirm income tier using the calculator on NYSERDA's Appliance Upgrade Program page. If you rent, get a signed Building Owner Attestation from your landlord first.
  2. Create a profile on the MyEnergy Portal and complete an Appliance Upgrade Program application. A printable PDF application is also available in 11 languages.
  3. Wait for an email from AUP@nyserda.ny.gov with two coupon codes — one for the dryer, one for electrical work.
  4. Browse the ENERGY STAR Qualified Product List to pick a heat pump dryer model that the program covers.
  5. Present the dryer coupon at checkout with a participating retailer. For electrical work, use a participating contractor and hand over the electrical coupon.

How this stacks with other programs

  • With EmPower+: EmPower+ is NYSERDA's whole-home income-qualified program. It covers heat pumps, insulation, and panel upgrades as part of a full home assessment. The Appliance Upgrade Program is narrower: a single appliance category plus the wiring to support it. If you qualify for EmPower+ and need broader work done, that is the better starting point. The Appliance Upgrade Program is the right path if you specifically want a heat pump dryer and don't want a full assessment.
  • With HEAR: Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate: HEAR is the federal income-qualified rebate funded through the Inflation Reduction Act and delivered in New York through NYSERDA. NYSERDA has not published, on the Appliance Upgrade Program page, whether the dryer rebate stacks with HEAR or is part of New York's HEAR delivery. Treat them as potentially overlapping until NYSERDA confirms otherwise. Do not assume you can claim both for the same dryer.
  • With NYS Clean Heat: Clean Heat covers space-heating and water-heating heat pumps. A heat pump clothes dryer is a different equipment category and is not eligible for Clean Heat rebates. The two programs do not overlap, but the same household can use both for the right equipment.

What to ask your contractor

  • Are you a participating contractor in the Appliance Upgrade Program? Coupons can only be redeemed with contractors enrolled in the program.
  • Does my existing electrical panel have capacity for a dedicated 240V circuit, or will I need a panel upgrade as well? Get this answered before the dryer is ordered.
  • Will you handle the gas line cap and removal if I am replacing a gas dryer? This is a required step that homeowners often miss.
  • Can you itemize the panel upgrade and the wiring run separately? They map to two different rebate caps ($4,000 and $2,500), and a combined invoice can complicate the redemption.

Common pitfalls

  • Buying the dryer before the coupon arrives. Purchases made before NYSERDA issues your coupon code are not retroactively eligible. Wait for the email from AUP@nyserda.ny.gov.
  • Buying a non-listed model. The rebate only covers heat pump dryers on the ENERGY STAR Qualified Product List as published by NYSERDA. A heat pump dryer purchased outside that list, or a vented electric dryer mislabeled as a heat pump model, gets rejected.
  • Renting without owner attestation. Renter applications without the Building Owner Attestation get held until the form is submitted. Get the form signed during the income-documentation step, not at the end.
  • Mismatched contractor. Using a licensed electrician who is not enrolled as a participating contractor voids the electrical-coupon portion. The license is not the issue; program enrollment is.
  • Gas-to-electric without the right scope. Replacing a gas dryer requires capping the gas line and running a 240V circuit. Households that scope only the dryer purchase end up paying for the electrical work out of pocket because the coupon was already redeemed.

Important dates

No program end date is published on the program page as of May 27, 2026. The program is funded on an ongoing basis. Income-qualified NYSERDA programs can have waitlists when funding rounds close, so apply early in a calendar year rather than late.

Source

NYSERB.com is an independent research site. It is not affiliated with NYSERDA, the State of New York, or any utility. Verify all program details and incentive amounts directly with NYSERDA before making any financial decision.

Verified against www.nyserda.ny.gov on May 27, 2026.

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