Let the appliance rebates begin

AUSTIN (KXAN) - A total of 39,000 Texans received government rebates to purchase new, energy efficient appliances.

Starting Friday, April 16, those Texans have ten days to make their purchase. If they have not received their rebate in the mail, they can go to the original web site , enter their submission ID number, and print out their rebate.

Once a purchase is made, the store will give the customer a proof-of-sale voucher, which can be mailed in to the rebate vendor, and the consumer should get a check back within 30 days. However, that vender, Helgeson Enterprises, is the one that had its system crash on application day, so the comptroller’s office says it is watching their next performance carefully.

Consumers have to certify that their old appliance has been disposed of and recycled. Shop around. Many stores will do that for them as part of the deal. Some stores are also matching the government rebates, and others are even offering a rebate of their own if the shopper was unable to get the government rebates. Those merchants include KIVA Kitchen & Bath on North Burnet.