Officials have said that many Texans pursuing rebate credits for energy-efficient home appliances missed out when a processing Web site and phone lines were overwhelmed.

The Dallas Morning News reported on Friday that the Web site to reserve the rebates went online Wednesday and was soon choked with 2,400 hits per second and more than 38 million for the day.

As part of last year's federal economic stimulus, Texas was distributing $23 million in rebates.

The newspaper further said that the state disbursed the total amount by mid-afternoon, angering many Texas residents who said dropped calls and Web site downtime, denied them rebates.

Phil Brown of Grand Prairie got on the system when it opened at 7 a. m., he said, trying to get money to replace his 28-year-old air heat pump.

The retired engineer said, "I got tossed out again and again and again."

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs is demanding answers from Helgeson Enterprises Inc. of Minnesota, which had the $876,500 contract with the state to administer the program.

The Morning News has reported that similar problems were reported with Helgeson's handling of similar appliance rebate programs for Iowa and Minnesota in March. (With Inputs from Agencies)