In last week’s Oak Hill Gazette, State Senator Jeff Wentworth wrote a guest article profiling the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program. Next month, from April 16-25, Texas residents can get a rebate to buy up to two energy efficient appliances including refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, hot water heaters, clothes washers, and both room and central air conditioners. Check out the article for more information, and stay posted to Texas Vox for continued updates on the program.
Conserve energy and save money
Jeff Wentworth, State Senator, District 25Texans who believe in saving money and conserving energy will have the opportunity to do both when they purchase an appliance through the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, April 16-25.
Appliances that qualify for the rebate include refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers, hot water heaters, clothes washers, air source heat pumps and both room and central air conditioners. In addition to money received through a rebate, Energy Star appliances use less energy and less water than most older appliances, saving consumers money each month on their utility bills.
Participants must be Texas residents. They must replace an old appliance with a new, energy-efficient model that they purchase in-store from a Texas retailer between April 16 and April 25 to receive a mail-in rebate. State rebates, including an additional $75 for recycling the old appliance, may be combined with other rebates and incentives offered by manufacturers and retailers and with federal tax credits. Each household is eligible for up to two appliance rebates, as long as they are for two different types of appliances.
The Comptroller’s State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) will administer the rebates, which vary according to the type of appliance. For example, rebates range from $45 for a room air conditioner to as much as $1,600 for certain air source heat pumps. Hot water heater rebates range from $300 for an electric heat pump to $640 for a solar heater.
Texas received more than $23 million from the United States Department of Energy to establish the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, the first of its kind in Texas. While $23 million is a lot of money, it is a finite amount that will not be replenished when it runs out.
The rebate program is not retroactive. It will apply to purchases made only during the April 16 to April 25 purchase period.
To ensure their rebates, consumers will have the opportunity to reserve an appliance rebate by calling a toll-free number or registering online starting April 5. After the reserved mail-in rebates are awarded, any remaining funds will be rebated to consumers on a first-come, first-served basis.
Consumers will have 60 days from the day they make a reservation for a rebate to install any appliance and submit their paperwork. Currently, reservation phone numbers and online information are not available.
Texans who want to receive up-to-date rebate-reservation information by email may sign up by logging on to www.secostimulus.org/rebate. This Web site also has a list of eligible appliances and answers to frequently asked questions.
During the current economic times, taking advantage of the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program makes sense and saves cents.
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