Atmos Energy, the natural-gas utility for much of North and Central Texas, runs the SmartChoice appliance-rebate program for its Mid-Tex Division — and it is the one genuinely live rebate in Texas aimed at replacing a gas furnace. It pays $300 for a high-efficiency furnace at 90% AFUE or higher and $350 at 95% AFUE or higher, plus $75 for an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat.
This matters most at the moment a furnace breaks. When a technician finds a cracked heat exchanger or a failure that costs half of a new unit on a furnace already 12 to 15 years old, you're deciding between a big repair and a replacement. The Atmos rebate tilts that math toward a high-efficiency replacement: the $350 tier lines up with 95% AFUE condensing furnaces — the same efficiency level the federal furnace standard will require for units built from December 2028 onward — so a homeowner replacing now can buy ahead of that curve and take the rebate for doing it.
The single most important detail is territory. The rebate follows your Atmos natural-gas meter, and the Mid-Tex Division covers the DFW suburbs, Fort Worth, Arlington, Waco, and the Temple/Killeen area but excludes the City of Dallas. Atmos's national marketing also advertises higher 'up to $600' furnace figures that are out-of-state maximums — the verified Texas Mid-Tex amounts are $300, $350, and $75. Confirm your division before relying on a number.
To claim it, the equipment must be ENERGY STAR–rated and meet the AFUE threshold for its tier, and you file within 12 months of installation with your Atmos bill and an itemized invoice. A repair to a working furnace is not covered — this is a replacement incentive — but if you are already weighing repair against replacement, factor the $300–$350 in before you decide. Pair it with a combustion analysis on the new unit so you can confirm the efficiency you paid for.