Texas Appliance Rebate Program Reservations Filled

With more than 38 million Web hits and nearly 39,000 rebate reservations made, Texans swarmed online and phone reservation systems to grab rebates for energy efficient appliances from the Texas Comptroller’s office. The state was only allocated $23 million in funding for the program, and all guaranteed rebates and waitlist reservations were filled within 48 hours of the program's launch.

There was unprecedented response to the reservation program — approximately 2,400 Web hits per second and about 1,000 calls per minute. Texans reserved 38,864 guaranteed rebates; of that total, 32,283 reservations were made online and 6,581 over the phone.

Consumers have to be on the guaranteed rebate reservation list or the waitlist in order to print or receive the application forms necessary to mail in to claim rebates. Residents must mail in their rebate forms and a copy of the sales receipt, along with any other required documents, postmarked within 60 days of today’s reservation date. Rebate applications mailed in from waitlist participants will be processed in the order received, pending available funds.

Texans can use the rebates to buy energy efficient appliances in eight appliance categories. The purchase period for all appliances begins April 16, 2010. For refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers and room air conditioners, the purchase period ends April 25, 2010. For central air conditioners, hot water heaters and air-source heat pumps, the purchase period ends 60 days from the rebate reservation or waitlist request date.

Disposal of the old, functional appliance of the same type is required for all rebate applications. There is an additional $75 rebate for recycling the old appliance.

For further details on the program, visit www.TexasPowerfulSmart.org. The Web site also has information on more rebates and incentives that would benefit consumers.