With energy prices high due to the summer heat and increasing need to keep electronics plugged in to charge, Austin Utilities offers rebates so customers can go green and save money.

Kelly Lady of the Austin Utilities said rebates help bridge the expense gap between regular appliances and equipment that is energy efficient.

“The rebate is to buy down the difference between standard and high-efficiency equipment,” Lady said. “If you buy the efficient equipment, you will also save money on your energy bill over time. So customers save money and get some money back through the rebate.”

Lady said the rebates benefit customers, the Utilities and the Earth.

“If we can help people use less energy, that helps us defer the need to build a new power plant,” she said. “It is saving money and putting dollars in people’s pockets, and it’s also conserving the Earth’s resources and helping people live more lightly.”

Austin-area residents apply for more than 2,000 rebates each year, and rebates are available for both commercial and residential equipment.

In order to qualify for a rebate, a person must be an Austin Utilities customer.

“They have to buy equipment that meets our minimum efficiency requirements,” Lady said. “That is all on the rebate form. They have to fill out the form and give us a copy of their invoice.”

In some cases, there are additional requirements, such as a gas inspection on a new furnace, Lady said.

Rebate forms are available at the Austin Utilities building; forms detailing the rebates offered are also available.