California Appliance Rebate

The program officially begins on April 22, 2010.

Beginning April 22, 2010, customers can buy approved clothes washers, refrigerators, and room/window air conditioners and receive rebates between $50 and $200, depending on the product.  Rebates will only be given for new products that are listed as Energy Star.  These are always well marked on the products themselves.=

Complete List of Rules:

Must purchase a new eligible appliance to replace an existing model in working condition.

Make purchase during rebate period of April 22, 2010 to May 23, 2010, from a California retailer. No out-of-state or internet purchases.

Must recycle the existing, inefficient appliance through a California Certified Recycler. Recycling services may also be provided by Platinum retailers, utility-buy back programs, and your city or county governments.

Consumers can receive one rebate for each type of appliance. Separate rebate and recycling forms are required for each rebate.

The appliance must be installed before submitting the rebate claim. The consumer, if asked, must allow access for an inspector to verify installations.

Must submit a completed rebate application within 30 days of the date of purchase that includes proof of purchase and recycling. (Note: This is a first-come, first-server program. Funds may run out before the program ends on May 23rd. The sooner the rebate is turned in the better.)

The rebate application package must include ALL of the following:

1. Completed and signed rebate application form with appliance serial number
2. Completed and signed proof of recycling form
3. Copy of the sales receipt for the appliance
4. Copy of the consumer’s utility bill (to prove residency)

The Cash for Appliances program is based on a first-come, first serve basis, and rebate applications must be postmarked by June 25, 2010.

To participate in the California Appliance Rebate Program, you must be a California residential consumer – You must purchase an eligible appliance that meets the state’s efficiency requirements. – The new appliance purchase must be for an existing, working appliance. – Existing, working appliance must be recycled with a California Certified Recycler.

Only three appliances are eligible, however. Clothes washers top the list of products with up to $100 in rebates. The new clotches washer must have a capacity of 1.6 cubic feet or greater and be CEE Tier 2 or higher. There is a list of manufacturers and models that are eligible which we’ve listed at the bottom of this answer. The purchase must be in this database of approved products in order to receive the rebate. This list includes popular Maytag, General Electric, Kenmore, and Whirlpool models as well as others like Samsung and Electrolux.

The second group of eligible appliances are refrigerators which qualify for up to $200 in rebates. To qualify for the rebate, refrigerators must have a capacity of 7.75 cubit feet or greater and also be Tier 2 or higher for the CEE guidelines. Frigidaire, Hotpoint, Whirlpool, and Maytag are among the brands on the approved list. Consumers can also choose from GE, Bosch, and a couple of others that made the Appliance Efficiency Database.

Finally, room and window air conditioners are products that California buyers are eligible for up to $50 in rebates with their purchase. In this case, the air conditioners must be rated 10k Btu or greater and meet the standard Energy Star listing. There is a long list of approved manufacturer models, including Amana, GE, Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Sharp, and Haier. Products from Friedich, Admiral, and several others also are on the approved list.

For a full list of appliances, please visit: www.cash4appliances.org/products/

No online purchases will qualify for the rebate. The purchase must be made at a California retail store on a new Energy-Star rated appliance, approved for the California Appliance Rebate Program.

The Cash for Appliances program lists 4-6 weeks for payments to be sent out to consumers, only if the claim for information is complete.