RENO, Nev. (AP) - In an effort to phase out energy guzzling appliances, Sierra Pacific Power Co. is offering cash for older but working refrigerators and freezers.

The Reno-based utility will pay $30 per appliance - and cart the old one away for free to be recycled.

"Customers save on electric bills, have their appliance picked up for free, receive $30 and can be confident that their old appliance is being safely recycled," said Bob Balzar, Sierra Pacific's director of energy efficiency and customer strategy.

"The refrigerator and freezer recycling program is a win-win situation for our customers."

The program runs through Sept. 1, or until funding runs out.

The campaign is a joint effort between the utility and JACO Environmental Inc., headquartered in Washington state.

Sierra Pacific estimates customers can save $150-$200 in energy costs each year by replacing freezers or refrigerators that are 10 years or older with new models.

Refrigerators and freezers made before 1985 use about 1,500 kilowatt hours each year, the company said. In comparison, newer ones that must meet stricter federal standards use about 450 kilowatt hours annually.

In the past two years, the more than 2,500 appliances taken out of operation have saved closed to 2 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually - enough energy to power about 450 homes a year, Sierra Pacific said.

All Sierra Power residential and small business customers in northern Nevada and eastern California can participate, the company said. There's a limit of two appliances per household, and all refrigerators much be from 10-27 cubic feet in size.

The also have to be empty and plugged in to show they are working, the company said.

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One the Net:

Sierra Pacific Power Co.: www.sierrapacific.com

JACO Environmental Inc.: www.appliancerecycling.com