Mississippi AC replacement: solve moisture and duct losses first.

Give the installer a problem statement.

Write down whether the trouble is high indoor temperature, damp comfort at the setpoint, uneven rooms, or repeated equipment failures. Ask the contractor to connect the proposed work to that specific problem.

For a Gulf Coast house, include outdoor exposure, drainage, and moisture complaints in the survey. For an inland home with long attic duct runs, ask how those runs and the return-air path will be evaluated. Request a site-specific load calculation and a written explanation for any capacity change.

Mississippi Power’s rebate is calculated per ton.

Mississippi Power’s 2026 residential HVAC form lists heat-pump incentives of $160 per ton at the 14.3 SEER2 tier and $200 per ton at the higher qualifying tier. Documentation is due within 90 days of purchase. Funding is limited and awards are made in application order; the form also limits repeat HVAC rebates at a premise.

Ask the contractor to verify the exact matched-system rating, qualifying tonnage, account eligibility, and current funding. The utility requires purchase evidence and a W-9 before payment. This is a Mississippi Power offer, not a statewide rebate or an incentive to oversize a system.

Mississippi Power: 2026 residential HVAC form · Source checked 2026-09-06

Ask for measured duct findings.

Have the installer identify accessible disconnected, damaged, or poorly supported ducts and explain any testing proposed. Ask them to distinguish sealing, insulation, and replacement as separate scopes. A recommendation to replace all ducts should come with a reason you can review.

Request a return-air plan for rooms that are uncomfortable with doors closed. Include the filter location and access for maintenance. If a new system needs airflow corrections, have those priced before you compare equipment brands.

Compare AC replacement with a heat-pump plan.

An AC-only bid should state what provides heat and whether existing heating equipment remains serviceable. A heat-pump bid should state winter output, backup equipment, and any electrical changes. Ask both bidders to solve the same room and humidity problems.

For coastal placement, have the installer follow local permit and site requirements and the manufacturer’s corrosion-care and clearance instructions. Put the stand, pad, drainage, and access in the scope; these should not arrive as unexplained extras after installation begins.

Use the actual account and a realistic net cost.

If you have an Entergy, cooperative, municipal, or other electric account, ask that provider which current program fits your project. Do not borrow a Mississippi Power amount for a different territory.

Compare gross project cost, verified rebate, and remaining cash or financed cost separately. Confirm the applicant, recipient, deadline, and paperwork owner. Before paying the final balance, collect model numbers, the matched-system certificate, startup results, warranty registration instructions, and a copy of the submitted application.

Bring a clear project brief to your installer.

Sources checked September 6, 2026. Confirm current funding and installation-date rules with the administrator before signing. These are selected local pathways, not an exhaustive rebate list.

Start a heating and cooling request with your existing equipment, utility, and comfort priorities. Temperaly does not approve rebates; a request is not an appointment.