Coming June 1: Return of the appliance rebates

O ye in appliance purgatory, the suspense is over: There will indeed be a second installment of North Carolina's federally-funded "Cash for Appliances" rebates - a mail-in program starting June 1, with a wider range of eligible appliances.

The initial phase ran from April 22 to 25 and offered an instant 15 percent rebate on Energy Star-rated dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators and freezers. That go-round consumed most of the money allotted for the program, about $7 million, with 54,400 appliances sold. The remaining $1 million will fund the second phase, which involves mail-in rebates for set dollar amounts. Air conditioning systems, gas furnaces, heat pumps and water heaters are covered this time around, as are the appliances involved in the first rebates. However, the discounts on items that were already part of the program will probably work out to be smaller for most consumers than those offered in April, because of the fixed amount - $100 on a washing machine, for instance - compared with with 15 percent off.

As with the earlier appliance rebates, the upcoming discounts are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and only N.C. residents replacing older appliances can apply.

The appliances covered in the phase two rebates include Energy Star-rated:

• Air conditioning systems, $300
• Washing machines, $100
• Dishwashers, $75
• Refrigerators, $150
• Freezers, $75
• Gas furnaces, $300
• Air-source and ground-source heat pumps, $300
• Water heaters, $200 (gas storage, gas tankless, solar with electric backup, solar with gas backup)

Unlike the last round of rebates, the upcoming rebates are not instant, but available via mail. Starting June 1, consumers can go online and reserve a rebate following a qualifying appliance purchase. They then have 14 days to send it in, and it should be fulfilled within two weeks of receipt. Consumers can visit a regularly updated spending total to keep track of the amount of money remaining. Details: Energync.net.