As our government continues to find new ways to squander taxpayer money, the federal government provided to the states funds for incentives for energy efficient home improvements. Here in Texas that has taken the form of the Texas Powerful Smart Appliance Rebate, which has thus far been a fiasco of Texas-sized proportions.
The program seems relatively simple: you get a rebate for replacing an old appliance with an energy efficient model, and an extra bonus if you recycle the old one. However, because funding is limited you have to reserve your rebate in advance through the state Comptroller’s office, first come first served. They opened the reservation website and phone lines this morning at 7am, and since frustrated Texans have spent hours struggling to get through the system to reserve their rebate before the funds run out. The published 877 number has been unreachable with callers getting busy signals of all sorts, and the website has timed out consistently leaving users to start over even if they get past the initial request page.
Myself, I tried since 7am this morning to get through on both the website and phone number, and after stepping away for an hour for a meeting and restarting I finally got through on the phone at 12:32pm, meaning I wasted about 4.5 hours trying to get through. I only got through because someone figured out that their was an unpublished alternate number at 877-581-1993, which was intended to be the rebate status line but was directing people into the rebate request queue. That line is still presenting callers with a message saying that the call can’t be answered at this time due to high call volume in most instances, but it is occasionally allowing you into the hold queue where you’ll wait about 5 minutes for a representative to process your reservation.
So if you are wanting to get in on this, remember:
- Funds are limited. If you don’t get this today, you probably won’t get it.
- Information on the program is at http://www.texaspowerfulsmart.org/. However, the rebate request website is at https://www.txrebates.com/. The published rebate reservation phone number is (877) 780-3039, and the unpublished number is (877) 581-1993.
- Be sure to get a confirmation number! Without it there is nothing to prove you made the reservation.
- You are limited to two rebates per household and one rebate in each appliance category, however you are allowed to request only one rebate during each call or web session.
As of 1:05pm Central, it is reported that 63% of rebate funds have been reserved and $8.1 million remains, so you need to hurry and get in.