Lakeland Electric has changed the rules of its rebate program for customers buying energy-efficient appliances or making energy-saving upgrades to their homes. Now, more people are using the program, but the utility has had to exceed what it budgeted.
What changed: Lakeland Electric came under fire last year when customers, the mayor and commissioners complained that people were being denied rebates because funds budgeted for specific categories of appliances or home improvements had run out.
“I don’t give a rip when people apply for rebates,” Mayor Bill Mutz said in December. “I don’t know one rebate I applied for in any sector that says to me, ‘Oh, by the way, we ran out of our budget money to rebate you.’ If I apply for a rebate, I expect it should rebated.”
The utility agreed and changed its policy to honor all qualifying rebate applications and not cut anyone off, even if the budgeted money ran out before the end of the fiscal year.
The backstory: Like many utilities across the country, Lakeland Electric began its rebate program in the late 1970s as a result of the 1973 energy crisis. At that time, gas lines stretched down South Florida Ave. as people waited to fill their tanks on assigned days.
How it works: Lakeland Electric’s rebate program is funded by customers via a charge of $.50 every month, totaling $6 a year per customer. The rebate for approved appliances and energy-saving home improvements comes in the form of a credit on people’s utility bills.
Since Oct. 1, Lakeland Electric has credited accounts for 5,431 appliance and home energy upgrades, totaling almost $900,000. That’s up from fiscal year 2023-2024’s total of $640,400.
Rebates are offered to customers who buy qualifying Energy Star appliances or make energy upgrades to their homes. However, customers must submit rebate applications within 90 days of installation or work completion. The amounts are:
- Refrigerator: $200
- Dishwasher: $150
- Clothes washer: $150
- Clothes dryer: $150
- Freezer: $40
- Duct sealing: $300
- HVAC annual maintenance: $100
- Attic insulation upgrade: $300
- Energy efficient heat pump: $500
Busting the budget: The issue came to a head at the Dec. 1 Utility Committee meeting when the mayor pushed his fellow committee members to let the program run wide open for a year and see what happens. The panel agreed.
Lakeland Electric Assistant General Manager Korey Bush said the utility exhausted this year’s rebate budget of $760,000 in June — three months before the fiscal year’s end on Sept. 30 — but has continued to honor rebate applications.
It will have to find additional money elsewhere to make up the shortfall, but Mutz reiterated that people should get what they’re told they will receive.
“We don’t discuss what our internal problems are on how we fund it or how we budget,” Mutz said. “They get what they expect, and that’s your checkmark, gold star, for helping us in the process of reducing energy load over time.”
Longtime Utility Committee member Jack English, who retired from the panel shortly after that meeting, said he agreed with the mayor.
“We need to let it go for a year without a limitation, then we can go back and look at the budget and arrears and determine what we need to adjust, correct,” English said. “If it’s $200 for a refrigerator, it’s only $175, then you make those adjustments, and it’s going to take an accountant to figure it out.”
Public complaint: Kevin Kayden, who lives in Bartow, just south of the County Road 540-A line, has complained at several City Commission meetings that he did not get his rebate.
“Refrigerator was ordered Nov. 10 of 2022, it was delivered Feb. 2 of 2023,” Kayden told commissioners earlier this month. “Applied for the rebate 16 days later. Email from Andrea Scott, ‘Please wait to submit until you see funding is available.’ ”
Increased interest: Bush said the utility is now averaging about $103,000 a month in rebates to people’s accounts. The new procedure and awareness of the program, which Lakeland Electric promotes regularly, are driving the interest.
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I’ve lived in Lakeland for over 38 years and been a customer of Lakeland Electric since then. I have never heard of these rebates for the energy efficient appliances and etc. I have at least 2/3 of all listed here. How have they publicized these rebates? This is the first time I’ve heard or read about this. I am a retired senior and widow and struggle paying monthly bills. Can anything be done now?
Our best recommendation would be to reach out to Lakeland Electric’s customer service. The rebate program is advertised periodically and listed on their website, but many people don’t know about it. You may be past the deadline to get a rebate on major purchases, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. If you get your AC serviced, that’s worth $100 every year. Good luck!
Ditto. Lived in Lakeland for years and have never heard of this rebate either. I activily seek out ideas and opportunities to save money on their website and have NEVER seen a reference to this program anywhere! Will this program continue to be funded? I will be buying a new W/D in a few months and would like to take advantage of this rebate if it still exists.