For a Tampa household served by Florida’s Peoples Gas, the old water heater’s fuel matters to the rebate file. The utility separates electric-to-gas conversions from replacement of an existing natural-gas heater. A receipt saying only “water heater installed” may leave that distinction unresolved. Residential rebate rules
Audit the invoice before the paperwork gets separated
Use this receipt check with the installer:
| Evidence | Question it should answer |
|---|---|
| Old appliance | Was it electric or natural gas? |
| Conversion record | Does the invoice explicitly identify electric-to-gas work, or is the old electric model and serial number retained? |
| New appliance | Which qualifying heater was installed? |
| Paid invoice and receipt | Are purchase and installation shown as paid in full or at zero balance? |
| Rebate assignment | Is the payment going to the customer or assigned to the installer with the customer’s signature? |
The conversion and assignment requirements come from the general rebate page; the paid-document requirement appears in the water-heater instructions. Keep an assigned rebate distinct from an installer discount so the same money is not counted twice in your own budget.
Check service and equipment eligibility separately
The water-heater page requires an active Peoples Gas customer or a landlord whose rental property has its service. It describes new qualifying equipment; the general rules exclude propane conversions and used or refurbished appliances. These conditions do not establish whether gas service is available at a new address or whether installation is permitted. Equipment and customer conditions
A saved application is not a submitted application
The water-heater instructions say a saved electronic application lasts a maximum of ten days. They separately allow up to twelve months from installation to submit for a rebate. Preserve the final confirmation rather than relying on a saved draft. The utility can verify installation, and actual payment can differ from an estimate. Application instructions
Questions go to resrebates@peoplesgas.com or 813-228-4755. We checked the Florida utility’s pages September 8, 2026—not similarly named utilities elsewhere. No application, energy-savings calculation or contractor recommendation was made.