Appliance Rebate Program Hits Florida This Spring

TALLAHASSEE, FL -- Get ready to take advantage of an appliance rebate program this spring, one that's similar to cash for clunkers. Your family could save more than $1,000 in appliance rebates.

Florida's Energy and Climate Commission continued working on the rules and regulations they plan to enforce when implementing the program this spring.

ELIGIBLE APPLIANCES

So far, commissioners are trying to decide whether to offer a flat discount rate of 15 percent to 20 percent OR give rebates based on a tiered system. Basically, the more money you spend, and the better energy appliance efficiency, the more money you'll get back.

"We have some flexibility with that amount based on how we want to stimulate the sale of the rebate or the sale of the appliances to encourage the rebate," explained Brenda Buchan, Chief Analyst with the Governor's Energy Office.

There are six different Energy Star eligible appliances:

• tank-less water heaters
• room air conditioners
• clothes washing machines
• refrigerators
• dish washers
• freezers

RECYCLING INCENTIVE

You may be eligible for even more money if you trade in your old appliances. So on top of the new appliance rebate, you can also get money back for your old one.

Commissioners didn't want to discourage Floridians from participating if they don't have an old appliance to recycle. Although they haven't set the old appliance rebate amount, they're hoping to deliver approximately $50 per appliance.

In order to claim your rebate, you must recycle your old appliance by returning it to a participating store or landfill, and obtain an original recycling receipt. Then you'll have to follow the guidelines which will be provided by participating retailers, Florida's Energy and Climate Commission, and appliances manufactures, and send in all required receipts and documentation.

You are only eligible to get money back on the recycled product if you are purchasing a new product of like-kind. In other words, if you recycle a dish washer, you'll only get the $50 rebate plus the new appliance rebate, if you purchase a new Energy Star dish washer.

"Basically, we want to set the amount large enough that it will encourage the homeowner to not leave that money on the table, that they will want to recycle their appliance so they can get this additional $50 or $75," said Buchan.

SPRING INTO ACTION

Commissioners hope to make the $17 million program available to Floridians in April. They said that should give manufactures and retailers time to prepare. Plus, it would coincide with Earth Day.

Florida's Retail Federation will work with those manufactures and retailers to market and advertise the program. If you're interested, commissioners encourage you to take immediate action because the program ends when the money runs out.

"We believe that this program will be very much like cash for clunkers, that we believe that the rebate funds will go very rapidly, that when it gets advertised, the first 2 weeks will be when we see the greatest amount of activity," said Buchan. "The program will end when the money runs out...whether it's 2 weeks or 1 month, if the money is out in 3 days the program will end."

EXEMPTIONS

Commissioners said they must adhere to the rules set by the federal Department of Energy. According to those guidelines, multi-family housing units are not eligible for bulk rebates. However, renters and condo unit owners can purchase appliances separately, per unit.

The program is intended to stimulate the economy, one household at a time.

Rebates are limited to one of each type (of the six mentioned above) of appliance per household. You can't purchase two washing machines and get two rebates, but you can purchase one of each of the six appliances mentioned above.

Each household is eligible to claim up to $1,500 in total rebates.

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CONCERNS?

Florida's Energy and Climate Commission is hoping to hear from you! Commissioners are accepting written content through next Wednesday, September 23, 2009.

The Commission's rules and application must be finalized by October 15, 2009.

Helpful websites

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Serve to Preserve

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