State to offer more appliance rebates in June

The state handed out about $7 million in rebates during the four-day first phase last month to people who replaced older appliances with more energy-efficient models. The money was about 87 percent of the federal economic stimulus funds the state received for the program.

“We were delighted with the results of the first phase, with North Carolina consumers purchasing more than 54,400 appliances,” Ward Lenz, director of the Energy Office, said in a statement. “With this second phase, we will put the remaining dollars to work to provide savings for consumers on appliances and utility bills while boosting our state’s economy.”

The second phase of the program will use mail-in rebates on items purchased on or after June 1. The rebates will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis and will continue until the remaining $1 million in funding is used.

In addition to rebates on Energy Star refrigerators, freezers, washing machines and dishwashers featured in the first phase, the June rebates also will cover Energy Star-rated central air-conditioning systems, gas furnaces, air-source and ground-source heat pumps and water heaters.

Rebates range from $75 on dishwashers and freezers to $300 on furnaces, heat pumps and air-conditioning systems.