Cash for appliance rebates still available in 26 states

Black Friday is almost here and it's all about the deals—rebates on appliance suites and freebies from manufacturers. In 26 states and the District of Columbia, residents are also eligible for ongoing cash for appliance rebates if they buy an energy efficient unit. And with the price of power climbing, who wouldn't?

Texans who purchase Energy Star qualified products can take advantage of $10 million in unredeemed rebates made available after a chaotic program in April left money on the table. The problem with jammed phone lines and Internet connections will be solved this time by requiring mail-in rebate requests. "This is a more traditional program that people are used to with rebates," R.J. DeSilva, a spokesman for the comptroller's office told the Houston Chronicle. "More people will be familiar with this process."
 
The program, which begins on December 20, features rebates on refrigerators ($250), washing machines ($150), freezers ($150), dishwashers ($160) and room air conditioners ($115). Rebates on gas-powered, heat pump and solar water heaters ($300) and central air conditioning systems and air-source heat pumps ($1,075) can be combined with some federal tax credits and local government and utility incentives. Here's some highlights from other states:

Massachusetts
After the holidays, Massachusetts plans to restart its program in a new format. All the rebates were reserved in a single day last April but not all were awarded because of "the pitfalls of relying on an online reservation system," said Phil Giudice, commissioner of the state's department of energy resources, in the Boston Herald.  
 
New York
Available funding is down to $85,000 and New Yorkers shouldn't expect a second round. The state Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has continued to put cash back into the program as applications are determined ineligible. "On September 29, we announced that New Yorkers would have 14 days from their purchase date to submit all the supporting documentation, and we've kept a close watch on the program's progress," says Dayle E. Zatlin, a spokeswoman for NYSERDA.

California
As of this writing, California had over $4.53 million available for rebates on refrigerators, washing machines, dishwashers, freezers and room air conditioners as well as some water heaters and other heating equipment. The appliance rebates end on December 6, the rest at the end of the year.

—Gian Trotta

Check your state. Check the Energy Savers website for the status of the cash for appliance program in your state. You can also type in your zip code on the Department of Energy's website to find more rebates from local governments, utilities and manufacturers.