Maryland Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program
Beginning July 30, 2010, the Maryland Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program ("Appliance Rebate Program") expanded to add rebates in four additional appliance categories, each related to cooling. These rebates, which are overseen by the Maryland Energy Administration ("MEA"), encourage residents to replace outdated, inefficient appliances in their homes with ENERGY STAR-rated equivalents. These replacements should deliver financial savings directly to consumers and energy savings to the state energy grid.
Rebates will be available on a first-come, first served basis while funding lasts for the ENERGY STAR appliances, as follows:
- Central air-conditioning units--$500
- Air source heat pumps--$500
- Room air conditioners--$25
- Freezers--$100
Purchases or installations made on or after July 30, 2010, will qualify for these rebates. These new rebates are in addition to other rebates made available on April 22, 2010 (Earth Day), for qualifying super-efficient clothes washers ($100), refrigerators ($50), and electric heat pump water heaters ($300).
As of mid-June 2010, approximately $500,000 in rebates had been processed by utilities and the MEA. These included approximately 4,000 clothes washer rebates, 400 refrigerator rebates, and 200 electric heat pump water heater rebates. The Appliance Rebate Program uses a $5.4 million award from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ("ARRA") to provide rebates to Maryland consumers through March 2012, or until the funds are exhausted.
As noted, the ARRA/MEA rebates are available for a limited time, based on funding availability. Customers of Allegheny Power, BGE, Delmarva, Pepco, and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative ("SMECO") must apply through their utility. Other residents can apply through the MEA. These rebates will be processed in the order that they are received until funding runs out. Applications that are fully completed and include all required information will be processed first. Incomplete or incorrectly filled in applications will delay processing or, possibly, eliminate chances of receiving a rebate. All rebates will be paid directly to consumers.
Program details, additional information, terms and conditions, and rebate forms are available at http://energy.maryland.gov. Customers of Allegheny Power, BGE, Delmarva, Pepco, and SMECO can click on the link to their utility's website from MEA's webpage to obtain program details, terms and conditions, and additional information.