Cash for Clunker Appliances Program Extended

Remember back on Earth Day in April when the "cash for clunkers" program started to include household appliances as well as cars? If you don't recall, you're not alone.

It seems as if no one remembers, which is why the California Energy Commission extended the deadline last week in the hopes of giving more people time to apply for the Cash for Appliances rebate.  The program will now continue until funds run out.

To receive a rebate, participants must purchase a new qualified, energy-efficient appliance, such as a refrigerator, room air conditioner or washing machine, and turn their old one over to a certified appliance recycler.

"This is a win-win situation," said Adam Gottlieb, a spokesperson for the commission. "Consumers are saving money upfront on their purchases, and also over the long run in reduced energy and utility bills, and California is getting the economic shot in the arm that it deserves."

When the program launched April 22, South Bay Appliance in Manhattan Beach opened two hours earlier than usual to meet the expected demand.

"This program motivates purchases and also boosts sales of high-efficiency models," said Vincent Andry, a sales representative at the store. "Many customers wanted to take advantage of the rebate and lower their utility bills."

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy allocated $300 million total for the Cash for Appliances program, with each state receiving funds according to the size of its population. California received $31.7 million, with about $19 million of that remaining.

"The program in its first part was very successful," Gottlieb said. "We had over 76,000 applications; a third of the money has been claimed, and is stimulating local economy."

Although other states closed their programs early, California's tough efficiency standards rendered many appliances ineligible for the rebates and so the state still has money to disperse.

The original program offered rebates of $100 on washing machines, $200 on refrigerators and $50 on room air conditioners.

The expanded program, California Cash for Appliances PLUS, includes rebates of $100 on energy-efficient dishwashers, $50 on freezers, and discounts ranging from $300 to $750 on water heaters.

A rebate can reach up to $1,000 on ventilating and air conditioning systems. And buyers now get 120 days, instead of 30, to file rebate applications.

New models have been added to the original list of eligible appliances, and customers can now choose between 139 refrigerator models, 273 clothes washers and 314 room air conditioners.

"We have put up signage throughout the store, with very specific information about the models that qualify," Andry said about the efforts South Bay Appliance is making to inform its customers. "We have those items properly labeled, and we make it a point to tell shoppers about the program when they come in."

Additionally, some utility companies and manufacturers have jumped on board with the program, enabling consumers to receive rebates from them as well as the state.

For example, combining the California Cash for Appliances rebates with rebates from the Southern California Gas Co. or Southern California Edison (SCE) can help a customer earn as much as $3,995.

"We hope that these excellent new incentives will help our customers make even smarter purchasing decisions so that they'll be able to shrink their electricity bills and reduce their carbon footprint as well," Gene Rodrigues, Southern California Edison's director of customer energy efficiency and solar, said in a press release.