ROMCO TERP Assistance FAQ
The following are common questions we receive in regards to TERP grants. ROMCO is a distributor of heavy equipment so the following answers apply to questions about off-road equipment such as wheel loaders, articulated haul trucks, motor graders and excavators.
What is the TERP program?
TERP, or the Texas Emission Reduction Program, is a state funded grant system that awards money to businesses that replace older equipment with newer units that pollute the air less.
What is the deadline?
The Rebate Grant round currently open will close March 31, 2010 or whenever funding runs out, whichever happens first. The other grant option for North Texas customers only, the Heavy-Duty Vehicle and Equipment Grant Program, will also close when funding runs out.
What information do you need to provide me with a free grant estimate?
Even though the state will probably not open another TERP round until late this year ROMCO can assist in estimating the size of grant you could receive, if approved. We need the year, make and model of your existing equipment. We need the horsepower of the engine. If the engine is not that unit’s original we need its model year.
We already have the above mentioned data on all the new equipment we sell so you do not need to provide that.
Finally, tell us how many hours of usage per year the current machine has averaged over the last two years.
From there we will do our best estimate of the dollar value range you can expect if your grant is approved by the state. The accuracy of the estimate is completely dependent on the accuracy of the information you provide.
Please remember the TERP system is run by the State of Texas which has the authority to alter its own rules. Any estimate we provide is not a guarantee of funding of any dollar amount, only a best guess based on our understanding of the system currently in place.
To contact ROMCO with questions about the off-road TERP program including a free grant estimate based on Volvo or Hitachi equipment click here.
Which counties are eligible for this round?
For the most recently concluded round equipment owners could apply for TERP funding if their new machine will spend at least 75% of its working hours in the following counties:
Austin Region – Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson
Beaumont-Port Arthur Region – Hardin, Jefferson and Orange
DFW Region – Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall and Tarrant
Houston-Galveston-Brazoria Region – Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery and Waller
San Antonio Region – Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe and Wilson
Tyler-Longview Region – Gregg, Harrison, Rusk, Smith and Upshur
This may or may not be the same county list used in future rounds. When the state announces their list we will update accordingly.
What size grant can I expect?
This depends on several factors that differ in the current piece of heavy equipment you own and the one that will be replacing it. We offer a free, no obligation grant estimate for potential buyers of our equipment. You can contact us to find out more by clicking here.
What does it cost for ROMCO to file for me?
While others either charge outright or build in fees, there is no surcharge for TERP assistance when buying from ROMCO. We do free estimates with no obligation to buy and offer free assistance in filing for those units purchased from ROMCO Equipment Company. Please be cautious when dealing with people claiming to be freelance TERP consultants. While there are legitimate, reputable companies doing this work be aware that more than one equipment buyer has paid thousands of dollars to individuals who didn’t file the paperwork correctly – or possibly at all. ROMCO has a successful track record with this program. We consider it a helpful tool in building long-term customer relationships and treat it as such.
What are my responsibilities in filing and receiving this grant money?
Since all grant applications are considered requests for money from the buyer and not the equipment dealer the customer is responsible for supplying accurate information about their equipment and their company. If/when you receive funding the state requires semi-annual updates on usage (hours and location) that must be filed for the term of the TERP contract (5-7 years). ROMCO can answer questions about these updates as well. Grant recipients also have to scrap the old unit under state guidelines.
Where can I learn more about TERP filing?
We are happy to answer any questions we can regarding TERP grants and our equipment, but if you prefer to look at the official information posted by the state the link is here. (www.terpgrants.org) If you are interested in on-road trucks you will be much better served looking up information there since none of our units are on-road.