Dec 19 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Mark Glover The Sacramento Bee, Calif.


It didn't show up in time for Christmas, but a statewide "cash for appliances" program might get rolling around Easter time.

The California Energy Commission on Wednesday approved the state's plan to implement a "cash for appliances" program with federal stimulus funds.

The U.S. Department of Energy has allocated $35.2 million to California in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds to participate in the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.

During the summer, there was speculation that California's program would be in place in time for the busy Christmas shopping season.

However, fine-tuning the proposal and winning federal approval took time.

Energy Commission spokeswoman Susanne Garfield said Friday that it's likely the program will kick off in April, after the state handles myriad details to get the program running.

Garfield noted: "To assist the state in developing and implementing this program, partners are joining the Energy Commission to ensure that eligible California residential customers can take full advantage of the available rebates.

The partners will provide a variety of free services to help the program, she said, including consumer education, marketing and hauling away old appliances.

"At this time, Sears is the only partner that has gone public," Garfield said, adding that others will be announced as they come on board.

The commission will administer California's program, which targets three appliance categories to receive rebates: clothes washers, a $100 rebate; refrigerators, a $75 rebate; and room air conditioners, a $50 rebate.

The rebates would be in addition to existing rebates offered by California utilities or appliance manufacturers. For example, if you buy an energy-efficient refrigerator that qualifies for a $100 rebate from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, you'd get that on top of the federal rebate.

To qualify for rebates, appliances must bear the Energy Star label and be certified to the Energy Commission as meeting all state and federal efficiency standards.

The Energy Star conservation program was created in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and evolved into an international standard for energy-efficient consumer products. Products with the Energy Star seal -- from buildings to central air conditioners to computers -- typically are 10 percent to 30 percent more energy-efficient than comparable products.

Like the federal Cash for Clunkers program that boosted new car sales in late July and August, the appliance rebate program is designed to boost the economy through consumer spending and take less energy-efficient products out of circulation.

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Call The Bee's Mark Glover, (916) 321-1184.

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