Will Texans Get Energy Rebates At All?
Good news! Texas has gotten $689 million for energy rebates from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The rebates help cut costs energy saving appliances, insulation, and home solar. As a result, consumers could save money on their Texas electricity bills. The bad news is that political changes coming in the next few weeks could stop the rebates before Texans get to see them. Let’s how losing these rebates could make Texans pay more on their utility bills.
What Do These Energy Rebates Cover?
To begin, rebates help cut the price for energy efficient upgrades to your home. They include insulation, windows, doors, and smart thermostats. Many offer a tax credit for appliances and upgrades to heating and cooling systems. For consumers, these upgrades lower electric provider bills. They also help boost home comfort and raise its value. For Texas, they help cut total energy demand which makes the grid more reliable.
The Department of Energy (DOE) is still going through state rebate funding requests. Texas has already received its share. However, Texans must wait until until Summer 2025 to send their rebate requests to the state. But by that time, new DOE policies may have shut down the program. Texans might not get any rebates at all.
Why Texans Might Lose Energy Rebates
President-Elect Donald Trump has suggested that he plans to delay or end the IRA once he takes office. Some Republican lawmakers back the rebate program but not all agree on what should change. So, in the coming weeks, the rebate program face an uncertain future.
If these rebates end then Texans would get no help to pay for energy-efficient upgrades. And clearly, fewer consumers would be able to afford them. As a result, ratepayers would struggle to cut their energy use and lower their electricity bill.
What This Means for Your Electricity Bills
If the lawmakers stop the rebate program, energy efficient home upgrades will stay very costly. Rising electric prices would keeping straining family budgets. And this will be felt hardest in summer. So, losing the money from these rebates would hobble Texans trying to cut their utility bills.
Texans can still cut energy costs by shopping for better electric rates. The best way to start is to compare plans at https://www.powerchoicetexas.org and explore your options to save more on energy.