The V.I. Energy Office’s Energy Star appliance rebate program is a “victim of its own success,” according to Energy Office Director Bevan R. Smith Jr., and Aug. 15 is the last day for residents to get in on the deal.
Money is running out on the program, Smith said in a statement Friday, and those purchasing an appliance will have until Sept. 15 to submit the paperwork
“Over 1,700 residents have participated in the program and benefitted from stimulus funds,” Smith said. The program began in September 2009. The Energy Office had originally budgeted $500,000 for the program that rebates 30 percent of the purchase cost to those who buy energy-efficient appliances.
The Energy Office expects to increase the funding by $230,000 but needs approval from the U.S. Energy Department to transfer the money from another federally funded Energy Office account, Energy Office spokesman Don Buchanan said.
So far, the office has issued payments totaling $274,000. An amount almost equal to that figure is still pending.
“The Energy Office processed almost double the applications predicted. Although, some returns were not as quick as we would have liked, no major problems occurred,” Smith said.
Refrigerators and televisions were the most popular items bought under the Energy Star appliance rebate program.
According to Buchanan, it’s unlikely such a deal will be repeated.
“People had the best chance they ever had,” he said.
The deadline for Energy Star appliance rebates will not affect the Energy Office’s rebate program for alternative energy systems, its solar water heater programs or rebates for certain other energy efficiency items. The solar water heater program still has about $3 million in funds to be expended and the renewable energy rebate program has $2 million left to expend.
For additional information, contact the Energy Office at 713-8436 on St. Croix, or 714-8436 on St. Thomas. Learn more about the Energy Office at www.vienergy.org.
