This is an unprecedented time, as the spread of the coronavirus changes how people work, conduct business, and go about their daily lives. Every segment of the economy is affected, each in a different way — whether its working remotely, practicing increased safety precautions, or the temporary shutdown of business activities. As people continue to deal with the implications of the past few weeks, BriteSwitch, a firm specializing in capturing local, utility, state, and federal rebates and incentives for businesses, is providing insight into how the rebate programs are being affected by the pandemic.

Most programs are still taking applications and issuing checks. A majority of the programs are still taking pre-approval and final rebate applications and issuing checks for projects. However, because most companies have either implemented remote-working or reduced staff, pre-approvals and final applications may take longer than usual. If you are currently working on a project or considering one for this year, give yourself additional time for the approval process. Policies largely vary by area, so make sure to check with your local program.

Inspection requirements changed in many programs. Some rebate programs regularly conduct pre- or post-inspections as part of their process. In light of the federal guidelines for social distancing, many rebate programs have changed how they perform these inspections. Some programs are now asking for photos of the equipment to verify rather than sending out an inspector, while other programs are trying to conduct video calls to verify projects and approve them. For the most part, programs are trying to limit all in-person activity, so if you're working on a project, be ready to provide more documentation than usual.

Program deadlines still in effect. At this point, there have not been many announcements changing program end dates or offering automatic extensions for projects that have been pre-approved. For program end dates, BriteSwitch recommends you assume these will not change and plan accordingly. If you have a pre-approved project that needs an extension, most rebate programs have been flexible, but be sure to keep program administrators in the loop.

Don't forget about your projects. With everything going on, it is easy to overlook something like a rebate application. If you've been pre-approved and finished the project, don't forget to submit the final rebate paperwork and invoices. If you don't think you'll finish in time, make sure to file for an extension, if possible.

Randy Young is the operations manager at BriteSwitch, a company that specializes in finding and capturing rebates for businesses. He can be reached at [email protected].