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State to unveil cash for appliances plan
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Published: September 26, 2009
The automobile isn't the only product the federal government is giving people a chance to chunk.
A clunker program for kitchen and laundry room appliances is on the way. A rebate program, worth $300 million in funding from the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, is aimed at encouraging people to buy energy-efficient appliances.
Unlike the popular $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program that ended during the summer, state government agencies determine how each program is operated.
North Carolina is ironing out its plan for the incentive program. The state will receive $8.8 million for its state-operated rebate program.
State Energy Office spokesman Seth Effron said the state is putting together its application detailing how its program will be operated.
The application on Oct. 15 to the U.S. Department of Energy is required to detail which Energy Star appliance categories will be included in its rebate program, the rebate level for each product type, how the rebates will be processed and its plan for recycling old appliances.
Effron said the program will likely include clothes washers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, central air conditioning units and gas furnaces.
"We are working on developing an application so consumers who chose to purchase an appliance will get that rebate at the cash register," Effron said. "We are hoping to develop a program so the consumer won't have to develop any forms."
The idea is to get old, inefficient items off of the electric grids across the state, he said. It is important, he said, to replace old and inefficient items, such as refrigerators, with new ones.
"These rebates will help families make the transition to more efficient appliances, making purchases that will directly stimulate the economy and create jobs," Energy Secretary Steven Chu said when he announced the plan in July. "Appliances consume a huge amount of our electricity, so there's enormous potential to both save energy and save families money every month."
Effron said the state plans to have the program up and running by the beginning of 2010, even though the funding will be approved in November.
"There are a lot of details to work out," he said.
Energy-efficient appliances can help lower power bills, said Duke Energy spokeswoman Paige Sheehan.
People don't purchase appliances often, she said. Usually, they wait until their refrigerator is broken beyond reasonable repair.
Sheehan said the electric utility has a number of other programs available for its customers. In a few months, it will roll out a new program to give low-income families a rebate on refrigerator purchases.
Duke Energy customers can also take advantage of several other appliance-purchase programs detailed online at dukeenergy.com.
Effron said consumers should also be aware of the statewide Energy Star tax-free weekend on Nov. 6-8.
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