Any Montana resident is eligible for the program, including those who rent their homes. The program is intended for families and private individuals. Montana residents may claim up to two rebates; however, no more than one rebate per appliance category is allowed for each household. For example, a household cannot claim rebates for two washing machines, or two refrigerators, etc. There is no commercial component to the Appliance Rebate Program and it is therefore not intended for rental property owners, commercial enterprises or new home construction.

The program will start December 10, 2010. Appliance purchases prior to the program start date are not eligible for a rebate.

The program will last until program funds are depleted. The rebates will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please continue to monitor the Web site to view availability of funds and rebates.

At the outset of the program, set for December 10, 2010, consumers may shop for and purchase ENERGY STAR^®-eligible appliances at Montana retail stores. Appliances from up to two product categories shall be eligible. The consumer may then apply for a rebate online or by toll-free phone call. Certain product identification information must be supplied, as well as select information to identify the consumer and the place of residence. The rebate application may then be printed and mailed to the processing center. Upon approval and validation, the rebated amount will be mailed to the applicant.

To apply for your rebate online:

1. Click on the Apply for Rebate button under your appliance category.
2. Select the appliance manufacturer and model.
3. Select vendor information.
4. Enter all relevant information.
5. Submit rebate certifying that all information entered is correct.
6. Print confirmation page and mail it to the address below with the proof-of-purchase and the hauled-away/recycling section filled out. Mail to:
   
   Montana ENERGY STAR^® Appliance Rebate Support Center
   P.O. Box 1887
   Saginaw, MI 48605-1887
   

To apply for your rebate by phone:

1. Call the Montana ENERGY STAR^® Appliance Rebate Support Center at 877.434.4229.
2. Receive the rebate form via e-mail or mail.
3. Fill out the form completely, sign and date.
4. Make a copy of the rebate form for your files.
5. Enclose the rebate form and the original receipt or a legible copy of the retailer receipt.
6. Fill out the hauled-away/recycling section requirement on the application form.
7. Circle the model number and purchase date on the receipt.
8. Mail to:
   
   Montana ENERGY STAR^® Appliance Rebate Support Center
   P.O. Box 1887
   Saginaw, MI 48605-1887
   

No. Purchases made prior to the start of the program eligibility period are NOT eligible for rebates.

Yes. The Montana ENERGYSTAR^® Appliance Rebate Program may be claimed in addition to rebates offered through manufacturers and/or local utility rebate programs.

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) requires rebate applicants to state how and where the old appliance will be recycled. Most old appliances will be collected by retailers upon delivery of the new product. Certain fees for recycling may apply. For example, refrigerant must be extracted from refrigerators and freezers before recycling, and fees for that service vary by region.

To check the status of your rebate, follow the steps below. Please allow six to eight weeks for processing of your rebate.

1. Click on the Rebate Status link on the main menu.
2. Enter Web submission ID along with your ZIP code.
   or
   Enter your mailing address and first and last name as submitted on the rebate form.
3. Click the Submit button.

No, not all appliances qualify for the program. Eligible appliances must meet program efficiency requirements as established by ENERGY STAR^®.

The rebates for eligible appliances are as follows:
Clothes Washers: $100
Refrigerators: $100
Freezers: $70
Dishwashers: $50

The U.S. Department of Energy, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, awarded Montana $928,000 in funding to launch an ENERGY STAR^® Appliance Rebate Program. The program is intended to stimulate the economy by encouraging consumers to replace older, less-efficient appliances with new, more energy-efficient ENERGY STAR^®-qualified models.

The Appliance Rebate Program is a great opportunity to replace inefficient, old appliances with new, energy-efficient ENERGY STAR^® appliances. These appliances will save energy and help consumers save money on monthly utility bills.

To get additional help, please click here to submit your question electronically. You can also reach us at 877.434.4229 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain time, Monday through Friday.

Qualified models may be found at http://www.ENERGYSTAR.gov/.

ENERGY STAR^® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy-efficient products and practices. Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR^®, saved enough energy in 2008 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 29 million cars - all while saving $19 billion on their utility bills.