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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

$100 appliance rebates available for Washington residents

Incentives apply to energy-saving equipment

The Spokesman-Review
Washington state residents can buy energy-saving refrigerators or washers and get up to $100 in cash for appliance rebates. Starting Monday, consumers will be able apply for rebates when upgrading or replacing refrigerators and clothes washers. Purchase receipts and other materials must be submitted by e-mail, regular mail or fax, with rebates delivered in about four weeks. The program, which runs until the state’s $5.6 million rebate pot runs out, will give a rebate of $100 for new qualifying washers and $75 for refrigerators. Idaho’s cash for appliances program is expected to start in the next 45 days. Nationwide the rebate plan will give back about $300 million to consumers as an incentive to eliminate inefficient appliances. In some states the rebate programs include more than two types of appliance. In Washington, program participants must meet these conditions: •New refrigerators and clothes washers must meet Energy Star standards; refrigerators must exceed 9 cubic feet in size, and washers must have a modified energy factor (MEF) of 2.4 or higher. •Only one rebate per household is allowed. •Purchases must be made after March 15 and only from participating Washington state retailers. •To get a refrigerator rebate, the buyer must also provide proof that an older refrigerator has been replaced or recycled. That’s not required when submitting a rebate request for a washer. The state program is expected to result in nearly 15,000 fridges and 45,000 clothes washers being replaced by more-efficient models, saving about $1 million in energy costs, according to Washington’s program Web site.