Missouri and Kansas consumers closer to getting appliance rebates

Missouri and Kansas will get up to $8.4 million for appliance rebate programs.

The U.S Department of Energy made the announcement Tuesday with the money coming from the federal economic stimulus program also known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The rebates to consumers are meant to increase the purchase of energy-efficient appliances such as refrigerators.

Missouri is to receive up to $5.7 million and Kansas up to $2.7 million as part of the $300 million national program. Each state has until fall to develop details about how its rebate program will work including the qualified appliances which could include air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, freezers, dishwashers, refrigerators and water heaters.

The states have until Oct. 15 to file their applications and the money should be available by the end of the year.

“I think we’re looking at late November or early December,” said Abbe Hodgson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Corporation Commission.

As part of the program, the states agree to provide rebates only for appliances that qualify for Energy Star, which signifies that the product is energy efficient.

Each state, however, will decide the amount of rebate for each category of appliances and will need a plan on how the appliances being replaced will be recycled. About 10 percent to 25 percent of each award to the states is expected to be spent on administrative expenses.