Rebates for ENERGY STAR Products Available Beginning February 12, 2010

Today the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approved Georgia’s plan for the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program and awarded $9.3 million to the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA) to implement the program.  The appliance rebate program will provide Georgians with rebates ranging from $25 to $199 on ENERGY STAR rated appliances beginning February 12, 2010.  ENERGY STAR appliances eligible for the program include clothes washers, dishwashers, air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, boilers, water heaters, refrigerators and freezers.   Purchases made prior to February 12, 2010, will not qualify for a rebate.

“The State Energy Efficiency Appliance Rebate Program will encourage Georgians to purchase energy efficient appliances,” said GEFA Executive Director Phil Foil.  “In addition to conserving energy and water, these appliances also help to lower utility bills.”

Beginning on February 12, 2010, Georgia residents who purchase a qualified ENERGY STAR appliance will be eligible to receive the assigned rebate for that appliance.  Rebates are limited to one rebate per appliance type per household.  For example, a consumer who purchases a qualified ENERGY STAR washer and a qualified ENERGY STAR refrigerator would qualify for two rebates as long as two of the same appliance type were not purchased.  The maximum rebate limit per household is $1,200.

When the program launches on February 12, 2010, customers and/or retailers will be able to confirm the availability of remaining funds by checking www.GeorgiaRebate.com or by calling (866) 296-1633.  The Web site and the toll-free number will provide a current estimate on the funds remaining in the program and the approximate number of days until funding is depleted.  The rebates will be awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Following the appliance purchase, customers will be responsible for immediately applying for the rebate at www.GeorgiaRebate.com or by calling the toll-free number.  When the application process is complete, a rebate form will be provided through the Web site or via U.S. mail if the toll-free number is used to register.  The rebate form and a copy of the sales receipt will then be mailed by the customer to the address on the rebate form.  The sales receipt must verify that a qualifying ENERGY STAR appliance was purchased during the promotion timeframe.

Once the rebate claim is physically received and the receipt is verified, the customer’s rebate will be approved and payment will be mailed.  Rebates will be issued in the form of a Visa^® Prepaid Card* preloaded with the rebate amount within 2-3 weeks from mailing the required forms and receipts.  Approximately 100,000 rebates are expected to be issued through the program.

The following chart provides a breakdown of the eligible ENERGY STAR appliances and the corresponding rebate levels.

For clothes washers, dishwashers and gas storage water heaters, two rebate levels are available due to different energy efficiency ratings.

Participants in the State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program will have the opportunity to join the Governor’s Energy Challenge, which is a voluntary program encouraging businesses, individuals, not-for-profits, schools, and local governments to reduce their energy consumption 15 percent.