Rebate for swapping out clunker appliances still available

New York State's appliance rebate program, intended to boost the economy and get inefficient appliances off the grid, still is operating, state officials said, unlike the one in Massachusetts, which ran out of cash on its first day of operation Thursday.

Representatives for New York's State Energy Research and Development Authority said the program is open-ended - until the remaining $2.8 million in federal economic stimulus money is exhausted.

Massachusetts' appliance exchange, which began Thursday, timed to Earth Day, ran out of cash in 21/2 hours, according to that state's Department of Energy. It provided rebates of $250 for dishwashers, $200 for refrigerators, $175 for clothes washers and $50 for freezers, in each case if the replacement models were "Energy Star" rated for efficiency, according to the website ApplianceRebate.com.

New York's "Great Appliance Swapout" began Feb. 12 with $16.8 million. It is generally less generous than Massachusetts' program and more complex. It provides rebates of up to $105 - for a refrigerator - for purchases of single Energy Star appliances, if the old one is recycled. Freezers are eligible for $75 and clothes washers for $100.

There are higher rebates for purchasing three appliances and recycling the old ones: refrigerators, $225; clothes washers, $215, and dishwashers $115.

The website ApplianceRebate.com says programs also have run dry in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.