What Central Hudson pays in 2026
Single-family homes over 1,000 sq ft use the first column below. Apartments and homes under 1,000 sq ft receive about half.
Air-source heat pump
Category 2 pays $4,000, or $8,000 in the Weatherized Tier. Category 2b with decommissioning pays $7,000, or $12,000. Partial to full load pays $3,000. Apartment or small home: $2,000 ($4,000), $3,500 ($6,000), $1,000.
Ground-source heat pump
Retrofit pays $15,000, or $20,000 in the Weatherized Tier. New construction pays $8,000.
Heat pump water heater
ENERGY STAR with a UEF rating through retail or midstream channels.
Incentive cap
The 70% statewide cap rises to 85% in Central Hudson territory.
These amounts match Central Hudson's heat pump page, which we read on October 3, 2026.
A table with no DAC column
At Con Edison, National Grid and the other utilities, a household in a disadvantaged community receives a higher amount. Central Hudson does not split the table that way, but it compensates with the higher 85% cap. A small job, such as a single mini-split, is therefore less likely to be trimmed by the cap here than elsewhere in the state.
Hudson Valley housing and the Weatherized Tier
Many homes in the river cities were built long before 2010, so the age route to the Weatherized Tier does not help them. The other two routes do: past participation in an approved weatherization program, or a heating-load test. If your older home passes the test, Category 2 doubles from $4,000 to $8,000. Ask the contractor to run the test before quoting.
Geothermal in the valley
Ground-source systems cost far more than air-source, and the $15,000 or $20,000 retrofit figure covers only part of it. Drilling cost depends on site access and rock depth, so get a loop design before you treat the incentive as a price cut.
Apartments, two-families and small homes
The half-size column catches more Hudson Valley homes than people expect. A one-bedroom apartment or a home under 1,000 sq ft receives $2,000 for Category 2, or $4,000 in the Weatherized Tier, and $3,500 or $6,000 for Category 2b. A two-family house is treated by dwelling unit, so ask the contractor how each unit is counted before comparing quotes. The 85% cap matters most here, since a small mini-split job at $6,000 total could otherwise be limited.
Landlords should note that the incentive follows the electric account holder. If tenants pay the electric bill, the tenant's account is the one the program checks, which affects who signs the paperwork.
Water heaters and weatherization
The $1,250 water heater incentive is the simplest to claim. NYSERDA's Comfort Home program and EmPower+ cover sealing and insulation. Finishing one first can qualify the home for the higher tier.
How to claim Central Hudson's heat pump incentive
- Confirm Central Hudson is your electric supplier.
- Get quotes from NYS Clean Heat participating contractors.
- Ask for the Manual J load calculation and the heating-load test result.
- The contractor submits and applies the incentive to the invoice.
- Keep the invoice and commissioning record.
Our pages for Central Hudson customers
- Poughkeepsie: Central Hudson electric.
- Kingston: Central Hudson electric.
- Newburgh: Central Hudson electric.
- Beacon: Central Hudson electric.
- Saugerties: Central Hudson electric.
Guides
Common questions
What is the most Central Hudson pays?
$12,000 on a single-family air-source heat pump in the Weatherized Tier with decommissioning, and $20,000 for a ground-source retrofit.
Is there a disadvantaged-community bonus?
Not as a separate column. The cap is 85% of project cost.
How do I reach the Weatherized Tier?
Build after 2010, take part in an approved weatherization program, or pass a heating-load test.
Does Central Hudson cover water heaters?
Yes, $1,250 on a qualifying ENERGY STAR unit.
Do I need a load calculation?
Yes. The program pays only for systems sized to at least 100% of the building heating load, shown by a Manual J calculation.
Who receives the incentive?
The contractor applies it and it shows on your invoice, so you pay the net amount.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 3, 2026: NYS Clean Heat Program Manual, version 3, NYS Clean Heat, NYSERDA Comfort Home, NYSERDA EmPower+. All rebate programs →