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State reveals plan for appliance rebates
Following in the footsteps of Cash-for-Clunkers, tax credit for 'first-time' home buyers, tax credit for new home buyers, etc.. we now have....
Kathleen Pender
Sunday, October 25, 2009
California consumers could get rebates ranging from $50 to $100 if they purchase a new, energy-efficient clothes washer, refrigerator or room air conditioner starting in late April under a proposal submitted by the state to the federally funded cash-for-appliances program.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided a total of $300 million to the states to set up appliance-rebate programs. California's share is about $35 million, which should provide rebates for at least 375,000 appliances, or about 1 for every 32 households.
Each state's energy office can decide which types of appliances will qualify, how big the rebates will be and other rules as long as they meet federal guidelines.
Although the program is part of the economic stimulus package, some manufacturers fear it could stall sales as people wait to buy an appliance until they can get a rebate.
A few states plan to start offering rebates before year's end, but "a lot are talking about starting on Presidents Day or Earth Day" in late April, says Jill Notini, a spokeswoman for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
"We would like to see this funding used how it was meant to be used, as a stimulus, (with programs) up and running as soon as possible."
The California Energy Commission designed its plan with the help of utilities, says Susanne Garfield, a spokeswoman for the commission. The commission will hold public meetings early next month to get input on program guidelines.
Under the proposal, which needs federal approval and could change before the program starts, rebates will be available on a first come, first served basis for certain appliances purchased from a participating California retailer between April 22 (Earth Day) and May 30, unless the money is exhausted before then.
"We could start as early as mid-March if our guidelines are approved and we have our (retail) partners," Garfield says.
The rebates will be $100 on eligible washers, $75 on refrigerators (excluding wine coolers and specialty models) and $50 on room air conditioners. Rebates are limited to one per household per type of appliance. They can be combined with other rebates.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...BUKF1A9HGS.DTL
Of course California, like the Feds, is stone broke.
Following in the footsteps of Cash-for-Clunkers, tax credit for 'first-time' home buyers, tax credit for new home buyers, etc.. we now have....
Kathleen Pender
Sunday, October 25, 2009
California consumers could get rebates ranging from $50 to $100 if they purchase a new, energy-efficient clothes washer, refrigerator or room air conditioner starting in late April under a proposal submitted by the state to the federally funded cash-for-appliances program.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided a total of $300 million to the states to set up appliance-rebate programs. California's share is about $35 million, which should provide rebates for at least 375,000 appliances, or about 1 for every 32 households.
Each state's energy office can decide which types of appliances will qualify, how big the rebates will be and other rules as long as they meet federal guidelines.
Although the program is part of the economic stimulus package, some manufacturers fear it could stall sales as people wait to buy an appliance until they can get a rebate.
A few states plan to start offering rebates before year's end, but "a lot are talking about starting on Presidents Day or Earth Day" in late April, says Jill Notini, a spokeswoman for the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
"We would like to see this funding used how it was meant to be used, as a stimulus, (with programs) up and running as soon as possible."
The California Energy Commission designed its plan with the help of utilities, says Susanne Garfield, a spokeswoman for the commission. The commission will hold public meetings early next month to get input on program guidelines.
Under the proposal, which needs federal approval and could change before the program starts, rebates will be available on a first come, first served basis for certain appliances purchased from a participating California retailer between April 22 (Earth Day) and May 30, unless the money is exhausted before then.
"We could start as early as mid-March if our guidelines are approved and we have our (retail) partners," Garfield says.
The rebates will be $100 on eligible washers, $75 on refrigerators (excluding wine coolers and specialty models) and $50 on room air conditioners. Rebates are limited to one per household per type of appliance. They can be combined with other rebates.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...BUKF1A9HGS.DTL
Of course California, like the Feds, is stone broke.
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