ARRA Energy Efficient Appliance Program or Cash for Clunker Appliances

Modeled after the popular summertime “Cash for Clunkers” program, nearly $300 million of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has been set aside for state run mail–in rebate programs for consumer purchases of new, innovative ENERGY STAR® qualified home appliances. This money is set aside not only to stimulate the economy but also to encourage consumers to replace older, inefficient appliances with energy-efficient appliances. Set to launch in 2010, each state picks their own time frame and designs their own promotion, within certain DOE guidelines. Go to www.energysavers.gov to review all state programs currently approved by the DOE.

Cash for Clunker Appliances - New Jersey's Program: If you click through the website above to New Jersey you will see that the state received $8.33 million towards this program and will have quite a few energy efficient products eligible for a mail-in rebates including ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerators, clothes washers, and dishwashers. Rebates are anticipated to be offered in April 2010 and are subject to availability. Rebates will end when funds are depleted.

To learn more about the AARA rebate program for New Jersey you can also visit www.njcleanenergy.com. If you click on “Rebates and Promotions” and scroll down to the “Energy Efficient Products” section, you’ll see that the incentives are tentatively scheduled to be offered beginning in April 2010. Digging deeper in the Press Room, there is also a press release from October 28, 2009 that provides more details on the program: NJ BPU APPROVES DETAILED PLANS FOR $8.33 MILLION IN ARRA FUNDING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCE REBATE PROGRAM

The approved proposal highlights the rebates that will be offered for home appliances. Clothes washers will receive a $35.00 rebate, dishwashers will receive a $25 to $75 rebate and refrigerators will receive $75 to $100 rebate.

New Jersey currently offers two rebates for home appliances. A $50 rebate to recycle your old energy guzzling refrigerator that is still working. The refrigerator early retirement incentive will dovetail with the ARRA Energy Efficient Appliance Program. New Jersey will also continue the $75 rebate on Select Tier 3 Energy Star Qualified Clothes Washers and a $25 rebate on the purchase of dehumidifiers that have earned the Energy Star label. These rebates will continue through December 31, 2010.

Cash for Clunker Appliances - Pennsylvania's Program: Pennsylvania will receive about $11.9 million towards the ARRA program. Products eligible for a mail-in rebate include water heaters, oil and gas furnaces and oil and gas boilers. To date, there are no rebates available for ENERGY STAR® qualified refrigerators, washers or dishwashers.

It is expected that there will be added incentives from manufacturers as well as rebates exclusively from Mrs. G’s during the same time period that the ARRA rebates become available.

We will keep this information as up to date as possible, so we encourage all New Jersey and Pennsylvania customers to check back often!