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How to participate in Cash for Appliances
This Friday, March 26, will mark the launch of the Ohio Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program, which also is known as Cash for Appliances.
This program, which is similar to the federally funded Cash for Clunkers program last year, is supported by $300 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Ohio received more than $11 million in funding for this program.
Cash for Appliances is designed to promote energy-efficiency and to stimulate the economy by offering rebates for people who buy an energy-efficient appliance to replace an older model.
The program offers the following rebates for the purchase of these Energy Star-qualified appliances:
Refrigerators, $100 (mini-refrigerators are not eligible).
Clothes washers, $150.
Dishwashers, $100.
Gas storage water heaters, $100.
Electric heat pump water heaters, $250.
According to the Ohio Department of Development, which is administrating Cash for Appliances in Ohio, the program will continue until April 19 for refrigerators, washers and dishwashers, and through May 24 for water heaters.
The program is for residential participation only, and is not retroactive. So, purchases made before March 26 do not qualify.
How it works
Before you take part in Cash for Appliances, figure out what you want to purchase.
The ODD notes that each household is eligible to receive multiple rebates if different appliances are replaced.
For example, you may receive one rebate for a refrigerator and one for a dishwasher, but you may not receive two rebates for two refrigerators.
Along those lines, you cannot trade in an old dishwasher for a new refrigerator.
The appliances you choose have to be designated as Energy Star, which is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Then starting at 8 a.m. Friday, visit www.OhioApplianceRebate.com any time or call (888) 686-8896 or between 8 a.m. and 11 p.m. daily to get a number and reserve a rebate. Those hours may fluctuate.
Bethany Klose, a public information officer with the ODD, said it might be easier and faster to go the online route if you can, “because the Web site can serve multiple consumers simultaneously.”
Klose added that the Ohio program is taking steps to allow for increased user capacity online, since demand for the program caused the server in Minnesota to crash.
Once you have your number, you have 72 hours to purchase your appliance from an Ohio retailer. Online purchases do not qualify.
“No single manufacturer or retailer is singled out,” Klose said. “It just has to be Energy Star-qualified.”
After your purchase, visit www.OhioApplianceRebate.com or call (888) 686-8896 to complete your rebate form.
If you print out the rebate form online, mail it in with the original receipt and proof that you properly disposed of your old appliance. If you complete the form on the telephone, just mail in your receipt and proof of recycling. If the store hauls away your appliance, they should supply this proof. Ask the retailer before you make your purchase.
Klose said if the retailer does not have a haul-away option, you can visit the Ohio Appliance Rebate Web site and type in your ZIP code for additional recycling options as well.
The address to mail to will be noted on the form, or by the representative on the phone.
According to the ODD, you have 30 days to mail in this paperwork.
You then can track your rebate at the Web site, and receive your cash rebate in the mail. It is important to note as well, that you can participate without getting a rebate number in advance, but Klose said you do so at your own risk.
“Without the number, there is not the guarantee that you will get the rebate,” she said. “Of course, if you purchase an energy-efficient appliance, you will still save in the long run.”
‘Double the deal’
Since the brand and retailer you choose will not affect your rebate, it makes sense that you should still try to get the best deal on your appliance purchase at area stores.
The ODD noted that, unlike Cash for Clunkers, there is no price limitation for the program. “Kudos to anyone who can get double the deal,” Klose said.
And, for those buying water heaters, the rebate may be used in concert with the federal tax credit for energy-efficiency, if it qualifies for both programs and is not specifically excluded.
Visit www.EnergyStar.gov for more details.
Multiple area stores have continuing deals on Energy Star-qualified appliances, and it is possible that the deals will heat up as the demand increases during this program’s run.
Sears, which will extend its hours to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday for the launch, and Logan Master Appliance in Kettering said they would assist shoppers through the rebate process by helping them complete and submit the necessary forms before they leave the store.
Other stores may decide to offer this incentive as well, as the program continues.
Also, this week, Sears has up to 20 percent off all appliances. The store also offers free delivery and free haul-away for purchases of more than $399, in the form of a rebate.
Logan’s delivery and haul-away is a straight $45.
Lowe’s offers free next-day delivery and free haul-away. And, according to Steve Dolan, manager of the Lowe’s in West Carrollton: “We will be able to provide anything the customer needs to compete the program.”
HHgregg has free delivery and haul-away on all appliance purchases of more than $497, Home Depot has free delivery and haul-away on appliance purchases of $398 or more, and at Best Buy, delivery and haul-away for all major appliances costs $29.99.
Also in stores this week, Best Buy and HHgregg both have 20 percent off all qualified Samsung French door refrigerators, among other deals.
As this program continues, I will continue to spotlight related appliance deals in this column and online.
For more information about this still-developing program, visit www.OhioApplianceRebate.com.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Post your comment | Categories: Helpful information, Sunday columns
Comments
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March 21, 2010 7:40 PM | Link to this
As a local appliance retailer (Drexler Sales Brookville, OH), I think this is a great program for consumers and I plan to participate by offering free delivery and haul-away or a discount off future purchases.
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