Cash for Appliances
Local News
by
Krista Fogelsong
last edited on
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Cash for clunkers has driven on.
Now the cash is for appliances!
The federal government's offering $300,000,000 in rebates when you buy new, energy-efficient appliances.
In South Dakota the program starts March 1.
The government is doing for your home, what Cash for Clunkers did for your car.
Brad Kosar says, "It's federal money, why not take advantage of it?"
Rebates are offered for energy-efficient washers, dryers, air conditioners, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, furnaces, and hot water heaters.
Rebates have already started in 13 states, the rest start this spring.
It was so popular in Kansas; they've already run out money.
Kansas offered up to $800 for a new washer.
Bob Finn, a store manager says, "When they see that 'Yea, I could qualify for a free appliance' basically, might as well go ahead and do it."
Angela Duncan's refrigerator is on the fritz, and she can't wait for the rebates to hit her area.
Duncan said, "Oh, I'm gonna save big pennies! Extra money in my pocket and my bills will be very cheap."
First cars, now appliances Victoria Vargas wonder what's next.
Vargas said, "Maybe they can do 'Clunkers' for something else we have in the house?"
The idea is to save money and save energy, but not everyone thinks it'll work.
Bill Beach of The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis said, "We're taking sales from future and moving into present, which means the future would be less rosy than it otherwise would be."
If you're eying a rebate, here's the tip; every state's rules are different.
In some areas only low-income customers get rebates. In others, only certain appliances qualify. So read the fine print before you shop.
Some stores are offering extra incentives on top of the rebate. And some states are offering extra rebates if you recycle your old appliance.