Iowa - Residential Energy-Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

Summary

Note: Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is providing a total of $300 million to U.S. states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia to establish rebate programs for new energy-efficient appliances that replace existing appliances. Each state and territory has designed its own program. Rebates will be available until the state or territory program's funding is exhausted. Be sure to confirm that rebate funds are still available in your state or territory before making purchasing decisions. Iowa is offering rebates for purchases of certain energy-efficient appliances by qualifying state residents. In order to qualify for a rebate, the eligible appliance must meet certain minimum energy efficiency requirements (e.g., Energy Star or CEE listing) and be purchased to replace an existing appliance in an Iowa household. Applicants must be Iowa residents with a valid Iowa residential mailing address and all purchases must be made from an Iowa retailer (i.e., on-line purchases are not eligible). Rebates are not available for business purchases, including landlords purchasing appliances for rental or commercial properties. Program participants may only receive a rebate for one appliance per appliance category per address, but are permitted to receive rebates for more than one different category of appliance. Rebates are available in the following six appliance categories: heating, cooling, hot water heaters, clothes washers, dishwashers and refrigerators. Rebates vary by equipment type and efficiency, and in some cases, appliances that are more efficient are eligible for higher rebates (e.g., gas furnaces). The existing appliance must be recycled in order to qualify the new appliance for a rebate. It is important to note that the program opens March 1, 2010 and that purchases made prior to March 1, 2010 are not eligible for awards. In order to receive a rebate, the consumer must first complete an on-line application or use the toll-free rebate reservation phone number to reserve funds for a rebate. After receiving a confirmation of funding availability, the consumer may purchase and install the new appliance and have the old appliance recycled. To complete the process and receive the incentive award, participants must mail in a completed rebate application accompanied by the sales receipt(s) within 30 days of receiving their incentive reservation confirmation. If incentive funding has been fully reserved by the time a customer applies for a reservation, the customer can apply to be placed on a waiting list for funding that becomes available from unclaimed reservations or disqualified applications. Rebates are issued in the form of a pre-paid Visa debit card. Please see the program website for further information, including a list of eligible appliances.