Rebates and Refrigerant
AC and Heat Pump Rebates in Tyler, TX: What Is Real in 2026
If you are replacing an air conditioner or heat pump in Tyler this year, the rebate picture has changed. One local incentive is live, one federal credit has ended, and the state rebate program has still not launched. Here is where things stand, along with plain answers on the R-454B refrigerant and SEER2 questions that come up with every new system. Call 903 HVAC at 903-393-1044.
Proper Manual J Sizing on Every Installation
Last verified September 10, 2026. Rebate programs change by season, so we re-check this page each quarter and update it when a program opens, closes, or runs out of money.
The short answer: Oncor's Take a Load Off Texas program is the one incentive currently available to most Tyler homeowners. The federal 25C tax credit for high-efficiency equipment ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. The Texas HOMES and HEAR rebate programs are still in planning and have no launch date. Details on each are below.
Oncor Take a Load Off Texas
Oncor delivers electricity to most of Tyler and Lindale and to part of Whitehouse. Its residential energy efficiency incentive, offered under the Take a Load Off Texas banner, is paid to a service provider enrolled with Oncor, and that provider passes the incentive through as a discount on the customer's invoice. That structure matters: the incentive is tied to who does the work and to the equipment installed, so it has to be arranged before the installation, not claimed afterward.
Oncor sets the equipment requirements, incentive amounts, and program year dates in its program manual, and those figures change from year to year. We could not read the current manual on the day this page was written, so we are not publishing amounts or deadlines here. Program budgets are limited and can be used up before the year ends, so if you are planning a replacement, ask us about this season's requirements before you buy. You can also check Oncor's website directly.
Not on Oncor? Co-op Members in Holly Lake Ranch, Hawkins, and Mineola
Holly Lake Ranch, Hawkins, and Mineola are served by Wood County Electric Cooperative, and parts of the Whitehouse area are served by Cherokee County Electric Cooperative. As of the date above, we found no HVAC rebate listed on the Wood County Electric Cooperative site, which does offer energy-saving resources for members. If a co-op serves your address, call the co-op before you buy and ask whether an equipment incentive is available this year.
What Ended: The Federal 25C Tax Credit
The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, known as 25C, covered qualifying property placed in service on or after January 1, 2023, and before December 31, 2025. A system installed in 2026 does not qualify. Some local pages still describe this credit as current, so be careful with anything that has not been updated this year. The IRS page on the credit has the details.
Texas HOMES and HEAR Rebates: Not Launched Yet
Texas received federal funding for two home energy rebate programs, HOMES and HEAR, administered by the State Energy Conservation Office. As of the office's August 21, 2026 update, rebates are not available. The programs are in a planning and design phase, and a launch date will be set once the state has approval from the Department of Energy. There is no contractor enrollment yet, and no way to reserve a rebate. We will update this page when the programs open. The current status is posted on the SECO Home Energy Rebates page.
What Is R-454B?
R-454B is the refrigerant used in most new residential air conditioners and heat pumps sold today. Federal rules set a limit on the global warming potential of refrigerants in new residential systems, and manufacturers stopped building R-410A residential equipment on January 1, 2025. New equipment coming off the line now uses lower-impact refrigerants, and the American Standard systems we install use R-454B. Some R-410A equipment built before 2025 can still be installed, so ask what refrigerant a quoted system uses.
Three practical points for a Tyler homeowner. First, an existing R-410A system does not have to be replaced. The rules apply to new equipment, and parts and refrigerant used to repair existing systems are not restricted. Second, the two refrigerants cannot be mixed, so an R-410A system is repaired with R-410A and a new R-454B system with R-454B. Third, this is why replacement quotes look different than they did two years ago: the new equipment is built for a different refrigerant, and a leak repair on an older system is now a conversation about how much life the system has left. For more on that decision, see our AC repair page.
What Is SEER2?
SEER2 is the efficiency rating on new air conditioners and heat pumps, and it replaced the older SEER rating in 2023 with a test that better reflects how equipment runs in a real duct system. Texas is in the Southeast region for federal equipment standards, where the minimum for a split-system air conditioner is 14.3 SEER2. A higher number means less electricity for the same cooling. Utility incentives are usually tied to efficiency tiers above the minimum, which is why the SEER2 rating of the system you choose can decide whether an incentive applies.
How 903 HVAC Handles a Replacement
Every system we install is sized with a Manual J load calculation rather than copied from the old unit, which is explained in our guide on what size AC you need. We are an American Standard Customer Care Dealer, and we offer financing through Synchrony, described on our financing page. If an incentive applies to your address and equipment, we walk you through the requirements before the installation. Learn more about AC installation, heat pump installation, and mini-split installation, or read our guide on what drives AC installation cost in Texas. Same-day service is available during business hours.
Replacing a System This Year?
Ask us what incentives apply to your address before you buy. Woman-owned, family-run, and serving East Texas for over 40 years.
903-393-1044 Book Your ServiceFrequently Asked Questions
No. The federal refrigerant rules apply to new equipment, not to systems already installed. Parts and refrigerant used to repair an existing R-410A system are not restricted, so a working system can be serviced as usual. Replacement becomes the better choice when the system is old, the repair is major, or the refrigerant leak is not worth chasing.
It depends on the program year and the efficiency of the specific unit. Utility incentives are written around equipment types and efficiency tiers, and ductless systems are treated differently from central systems in some years. Ask us about the unit you are considering and we will check it against the current program requirements before you buy.
Oncor sets the thermostat and equipment requirements in its program manual, and they can change each program year. Because we could not read the current manual on the day this page was written, we are not stating the requirement here. Call us and we will confirm what this season's program requires for your installation.
Oncor runs its incentives on a program year with a limited budget, and the program can close early when the budget is used up. The closing date is set in the program manual and is not published here until we have read the current version. If you are planning a fall replacement, ask early rather than waiting for the first cold night.
