By Sam Baker, KERA Morning Edition Host
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-940873.mp3
Dallas, TX –
In this week's economy segment, the second round of the state appliance rebate program. The Texas Comptroller's office is launching it today with more federal stimulus money available this time - more than 18-million dollars. Spokesman Allen Spelce told Sam Baker with the Comptroller's office has made the money easier to access after what happened in April.
Allen Spelce: The reservation system on our website was totally overloaded, which caused it to collapse. Folks then, who couldn't get online, then started going to our phone bank and calling the phone bank, which then cause it to collapse or go down. It took us hours to get it back up and running. We still were able to accept about 56,000 people to sign up on the reservation list, and out of that about 28,000 people actually went out and purchased appliances to get a rebate.
Sam: While there are reported signs of improvement in the economy, but it's still struggling. So do you anticipate more response and can you handle it if does happen?
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Spelce: We're anticipating the response to be high. We decided to get rid of the online and phone bank system for reservations and go to simple rebate mail-in program. That way there's not that gold rush mentality. People can go purchase something. You don't have to make a reservation. You send in your form to get your rebate. We've also set up online a ticker, so folks can go see how much money is left, so there's not that panic - so you can see there's 12 million, 10 million, 8 million and you can say "Alright, I'm gonna mail it in now." Or you get down to two or three hundred thousand and you don't want to take a chance on getting that rebate. "I may not mail in that form." We want people to be informed and to make a decision because it is a first come, first serve basis.
Sam: The list of appliances eligible is very specific. Say, for instance, washers not dryers. Refrigerators and dishwashers, but not stoves or ranges. Why is that?
Spelce: The guidelines came from the Department of Energy. They are Energy Star appliances that are deemed to be energy-efficient. We have even simplified the rebate amount. We lowered it a little bit to make more funds available. And to not make it as confusing. For example, we had several different rebate levels for air conditioners. Now it's just a thousand dollars. You're also eligible, in addition to the rebate, an additional 75 dollars if you dispose of or recycle that old appliance. That's the whole purpose of this program, is to take out inefficient appliances and replace them with new energy-efficient product.
Sam: What kind of economic impact has this program had?
Spelce: The retailers love it because not only are folks looking to buy that freezer or refrigerator, but when they go into the store to look at them, they'll often buy other items. It drives traffic and retailers like this, especially this time of the year during the Christmas holidays, you know, is make or break for some folks.
Sam: Do you have any idea if people take that rebate money and spend it. Or do they save it?
Spelce: It's been kind of across the board. Folks are budget shopping; they're looking for discounts. And they're saving more. But we've seen here recently - this is the eighth consecutive month we've seen sales tax revenue go up in the state of Texas. So, Texans are starting to get out and starting to shop. And our revenue is consumer driven. We encourage folks to go out and spend that money.
Allen Spelce is a spokesperson with the Texas Comptroller's office.
For more information on the appliance rebate program:
http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/arra/rebate/index.php
To download rebate forms:
http://www.texaspowerfulsmart.org
Where to find Comptroller's field offices to obtain forms: