What is it
Rebates are programs designed to assist NBU customers in implementing water or energy conservation practices or technologies at their homes, said Andrew Cummings, NBU’s director of customer solutions. The rebates are accredited to customers’ bills.
Digging deeper
NBU offers a variety of commercial and residential rebate programs for its customers, which have an average of 300-500 participants annually, Cummings said.
“It’s relatively low when you consider that we have a total customer base of around 70,000 for electric and about 55,000 for water,” he said.
The utility distributes between $400,000 and $800,000 in customer rebates each year and tries to target a 4-year return on investment, Cummings said. The utility has provided $1.61 million in cost savings to its customers through rebates from 2020-2024, according to an email from Enterprise Communications Manager Becca Graham.
"Our rebates are designed to assist with number one the initial cost but then the target technology that we're getting we want them to have savings that would equate with payback in certain amount of years," Cummings said.
“We try to be responsible with community funds, but then also, where can we put those funds to where we’ll know we’ll have the most amount of savings,” he said.
NBU offers four residential-only rebates, which include Air Conditioner Checkup and Drought Tolerant Tree rebates. The Drought Tolerant Tree rebate requires a customer to purchase a drought-tolerant tree for their home and cut back on watering while providing shade.
The utility also offers a Gardening Guide rebate where residential customers can purchase the guide and learn best management practices for planting and maintaining drought-tolerant landscaping.
NBU also offers an Ultra-High Efficiency Washing Machine rebate where customers can purchase an Energy Star or Consortium for Energy Efficiency-rated washing machine to conserve water.
Other rebates NBU offers for commercial and residential customers include the installation of programmable or smart thermostats to reduce energy use. The utility also offers rebates for the installation of solar panels.
The local impact
NBU offers a variety of commercial and residential rebate programs for its customers, which have an average of 300-500 participants annually, Cummings said.
“It’s relatively low when you consider that we have a total customer base of around 70,000 for electric and about 55,000 for water,” he said.
As drought conditions persist across the Central Texas region, officials with NBU have seen an uptick in rebates specifically around water. Participation in NBU’s electric rebates is relatively baseline; however, the utility does see seasonal peaks around summertime and tax season when individuals have “more expendable income,” Cummings said.
Learn more
If a rebate is not having the intended results, the utility will modify it or replace it with something else. Cummings encouraged customers to send suggestions if there is potential for a new rebate to be created.
“We don’t know what we don’t know until we know it, and we’re always looking for that next really big savings program,” Cummings said.
NBU customers interested in applying for a rebate can apply online or pick up a physical copy of the application at the Customer Solutions Center, located at 1488 S. Seguin Ave.
