What insulation help exists in Rochester
We re-read NYSERDA's EmPower+ and Comfort Home pages and the NYS Clean Heat manual on October 3, 2026. RG&E's own website did not load for us that day, so check RG&E's current insulation offer with them directly.
EmPower+ low income
No-cost insulation, air sealing and safety work for income-eligible owners and renters of 1 to 4 family homes. Monroe County uses the upstate cap.
EmPower+ moderate income
Plus up to $1,600 in federal HEAR money for air sealing, insulation and ventilation.
NYSERDA Comfort Home
Good and Better seal and insulate packages, plus $2,000 for windows afterward. Any income.
RG&E Home Insulation and Air Sealing
Named in the NYS Clean Heat manual as an approved weatherization program for the Weatherized Tier. We could not read RG&E's page to confirm current amounts.
Working it out with RG&E numbers
For an RG&E single-family home that installs a heat pump and removes the old system, NYS Clean Heat pays $7,000. After an approved weatherization program, the Weatherized Tier pays $12,000. In a Disadvantaged Community it is $8,000, or $13,000 weatherized. A $3,000 Comfort Home Better package can therefore be worth $8,000 in total.
What Rochester homes look like
The US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020 to 2024) counts about 104,500 homes in Rochester. 87% were built before 1980 and 54% in 1939 or earlier. 44% are single detached houses, a higher share than Buffalo or Syracuse, and 26% are in buildings of 2 to 4 units. About 38% of households own their home.
72% of homes heat with piped gas and 22% with electricity. So most Rochester homeowners are sealing and insulating to cut a gas bill, while about one in five is fighting an electric heating bill, where the payback is quicker.
Why the utility matters
Rochester sits under National Grid in our site's address, but RG&E is the utility. Programs from National Grid, like its Weatherization Health and Safety Program, are for National Grid customers. Your Clean Heat rebate also follows RG&E's table, which shares its numbers with NYSEG. Check the name on your bill before you apply for anything. Our NYSEG and RG&E rebates page has the details.
Three routes to the Weatherized Tier
The NYS Clean Heat manual gives three ways to qualify for the higher heat pump rebate. One: the home was built after 2010. Two: the home went through an approved program, which for RG&E customers includes RG&E's Home Insulation and Air Sealing or NYSERDA's Comfort Home. Three: the home passes a heating-load test based on its size. With 54% of Rochester homes built before 1940, the first route rarely applies, so a program is the usual path.
Renters
About 62% of Rochester households rent. EmPower+ is open to income-eligible renters of 1 to 4 family homes, with the landlord's okay. If you heat with electricity and pay the bill, show your landlord the numbers above.
How to get insulation help in Rochester
- Check your bill. If it says RG&E, use RG&E and NYSERDA programs.
- Check EmPower+ income limits for Monroe County and apply on the MyEnergy portal if you qualify.
- If not, look up Comfort Home contractors for Monroe County, or call RG&E about its insulation and air sealing program.
- Keep your completion paperwork for the Clean Heat Weatherized Tier.
Common questions
Is Rochester served by National Grid?
No. The City of Rochester is served by RG&E. National Grid serves other parts of upstate New York, like Buffalo, Syracuse and Albany.
How much more is the RG&E heat pump rebate after insulating?
For a single-family home with old-system removal, $12,000 instead of $7,000, per the NYS Clean Heat manual. In a Disadvantaged Community, $13,000 instead of $8,000.
What does Comfort Home pay?
$2,500 for the Good package, $3,000 for the Better package, and $2,000 for windows after sealing and insulation.
Is insulation free for low-income Rochester families?
Through EmPower+, income-eligible households can get no-cost work up to $12,000 per project upstate.
Is there a federal tax credit for insulation in 2026?
No. The IRS says the 25C credit does not apply to work placed in service after December 31, 2025.
What to do next
Check your income against EmPower+ first, then plan insulation and a heat pump together. Our Rochester heat pump guide and the Rochester rebate hub have the rest.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 3, 2026: NYSERDA: EmPower+, NYSERDA: Comfort Home, NYS Clean Heat Program Manual, US Census Bureau ACS table B25034. All Rochester rebates → Every RG&E rebate →