State Ending Rebates For Certain Appliances

After Dec. 6, Californians will no longer be able to receive rebates for replacing certain appliances under a federal stimulus program that is phasing out.

Rebates for refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers and room air conditioners expire Dec. 6. Applications for rebates for water heaters, heating, ventilating and air conditioning units must be postmarked by Dec. 31, state officials said.

The rebates are offered through the California State Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program - otherwise known as "Cash for Appliances" - that used $35.2 million in federal stimulus money to encourage the purchase of more efficient appliances.

About $4.5 million remains, and state officials said they will close part of the program to ensure all rebates can be paid. Consumers have until Dec. 6 to file rebate documents.

Almost 217,000 rebate applications have been filed, with clothes washers and refrigerators accounting for 69% of the current total, according to the Cash for Appliances Web site.