ARA

Alabama Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program

As a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Alabama had slightly more than $4 million available for an appliance rebate program. The program's goal is to stimulate the economy by encouraging consumers to replace old appliances with new, energy-efficient models. The rebates are being paid to consumers in VISA prepaid cards, which can be used anywhere VISA is accepted for 12 months after the card is issued.

Alabamians first began reserving the rebates on Monday, April 19th, just three days away from Earth Day. Reservations initially ended 18 days later on Thursday, May 6, after 37,785 rebates were reserved. (Read May 7 ADECA release).

PROGRAM REOPENS
Although all $4 million was reserved, not all of the rebates were claimed or qualified. The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs reopened the program for consumers in late August, making almost $2 million in rebates available for Alabamians. (Read Sept. 2 ADECA release)

Those replacing an old appliance can reserve a rebate at www.alrebates.com or by calling (877) 856-6645.  Once all $1.9 million-plus available in the second wave of rebates is used up, a waiting list again will be established.

Consumers have 15 days from reserving their rebate to mail in a sales receipt and other required materials in order to get their prepaid VISA. Consumers can purchase a qualifying appliance, or appliances, in store before or after reserving the rebate. Online purchases are not eligible for the rebates. If the initial rebate applications are deemed ineligible or if applicants fail to mail in the required documents within 15 days, any unclaimed funds will go to those on the waiting list on a first-registered, first-to-receive basis.  Consumers will be able to find instructions for qualifying to be included on the waiting list for the rebates at alrebates.com.

The consumer rebates range from $25 to $150 on ENERGY STAR clothes washers, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, and room air conditioners. Eligible applicants must be Alabama residents, 18 years or older, who are replacing an existing appliance.  Rebates are allowed on two different appliance types per household (one refrigerator and one dishwasher for example would qualify, not two dishwashers).

ApplianceRebateChart

Qualified products will feature this familiar logo on the front of the product and on the product packaging:

Energy Star logo

Retailers unsure if your inventory qualifies should visit www.ENERGYSTAR.gov for a complete list of ENERGY STAR qualified products and models.

MORE INFORMATION

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs put together printable guides for the rebate programs, both for retailers and for consumer. Download copies for your staff and customers:

These guides also are available at alrebates.com

WEBINAR REVIEW

Retailers, if you missed the March 16 ADECA Webinar on the rebate program, below is information from that program, which you also might find helpful:

HOW TO TREAT APPLIANCE PURCHASE ON  YOUR TAXES

The Internal Revenue Service is treating payments to consumers funded by the appliance rebate program as reductions in the purchase price of the purchased product rather than income. Consumers who successfully receive a rebate through this program should reduce the value of any appliance purchased by the amount of the rebate and must not treat that amount as an expenditure in determining any federal income tax deduction or credit.