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State of Florida cheats residents out of Energy Star Rebates

Posted by Michael Carlson on Wed, Nov 24, 2010 @ 12:31 PM
  
  
  
  
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I am writing today regarding the State of Florida’s recent action concerning the Florida Energy Star HVAC rebate.  The rebate was to be in effect from 8/30/10-12/31/10, and provide a rebate of $1500, and be funded with 14.9 million dollars.

We now know that on Tuesday, November 16, 2010, the Florida Legislature passed House Bill 15A approving funding for all qualified applications for the Florida Energy Star Residential HVAC Rebate program with constraints.  Governor Charlie Crist signed the legislation.  To qualify for the rebate the HVAC or geothermal system must have been purchased or contracted for purchase with a Florida-licensed contractor between August 30, 2010, and September 14, 2010.

The Florida Energy Star HVAC rebate was to be in effect from 8/30/10-12/31/10. Knowing this, my wife and I replaced our old 1999 Heat Pump with a new energy efficient heat pump on 11/4/2010, well before the posted deadline of the program, and well before the state of Florida retroactively changed the rules on us.  This is not fair.  Everyone who took advantage of the program between 9/15/2010 and the state of Florida action on 11/16/2010 unknowingly got cut out of the program retroactively.  We are one of those Florida households trying to do the right thing who just got cheated out of $1500 by the state of Florida.  We cannot now undo the improvements we made and our representatives and senators should not be able to undo the rebate without prior notification to the residents of Florida.

We ask that the representatives and senators of Florida correct this injustice and modify the most recent legislation to cover at least the time frame up until you decided to change the rules.  Especially, we call on Representative Ray Pilon, Representative Doug Holder, Representative Greg Steube, Senator Michael Bennett, Senator Nancy Detert, and Governor Charlie Crist to make this right.

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Comments

this bill was also outrageous because it required ductwork that could not be done in most condos of which Florida has many,many of which retired fixed income,well fixed unless my social security is cut,own. Why didn't Florida follow the federal model?
Posted @ Wednesday, November 24, 2010 3:56 PM by joan mckniff
You're right. And get this, I DID get my air conditioner on Aug.30th, but the state did not notify the companies of the changes and deadlines. By the time I saw this online and was able to get in touch with the company, I was told it was too late. What a farce!
Posted @ Monday, December 20, 2010 12:38 PM by Gloria
We, too, were rejected for the HVAC rebate for "invalid purchase date" (11-9-2010). When I complained, I received an e-mail from Senator Nancy Detert stating that the retailers misled customers! That is her official stand on this matter!
Posted @ Friday, January 28, 2011 10:00 AM by Robert Graff
I feel fooled. I sign the contract on Sep/14/2010, next day program was suspended.  
 
The terms and conditions says to send the documentation Dec/30 and in the website main page Nov/30. I send my documents Dec/4. I got an email telling me that I am ineligible because I missed the required submisison date. This is soooo unfair.
Posted @ Thursday, February 03, 2011 11:12 PM by Sandra Aguilar
We bought our system Sept 1,2010. Applied, finally, 11/17. The first application was rejected because they said they couldn't read the .pdf file which was clearly legible. I resent it and was approved as listed on the website. Recently the website marked my submission as "paid". However, I have yet (end of April) seen a payment of the $1500 owed.
Posted @ Monday, April 25, 2011 7:53 AM by Tom Bullock
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