As reported by the Tulsa World:

Applicance Rebate Attract $26 Million in Sales

    Oklahoma’s $3.5 million appliance rebate program spurred $26 million in sales during its 19-day run.

    Under the federal stimulus program, which started May 8 and ended Wednesday, Oklahomans filed for 16,355 rebate coupons for Energy Star-rated appliances.

    Program participants could save up to 40 percent on new clothes washers and refrigerators, although statistics show that consumers tended to use the rebates for higher-end purchases.The average price for items under the program was $1,224.

    Mike Walker, president of Hahn Appliance Warehouse, said about 60 percent of customers who used the rebates to buy a clothes washer also bought a dryer, which did not qualify for a rebate.

    “About a third of the people were using the rebate as a chance to get the least-expensive, high-efficiency washer they could,” Walker said. “Another third were using it to upgrade to a front-loading pair, and another third were there to buy a $1,399 set and used the rebate to upgrade even more.”

    Refrigerators were the most popular appliance, with 7,682 rebates reserved. Clothes washers were close behind with 7,514 rebates. Those two appliances totaled more than 92 percent of all rebates.

    The Oklahoma Department of Commerce is urging buyers to mail in their forms to get their rebates.

    “They have to send in their forms by June 30,” said Beth Schmidt, a department spokeswoman.

    Schmidt said it should take four to six weeks for the Ohio-based rebate processor to receive and return rebate checks to those who bought appliances. However, officials at the Commerce Department do expect some hang ups, such as missing signatures or improperly filled-out forms.

    Schmidt said if consumers receive a rejection letter, they’ll have about 15 days to fix the problem and return the rebate forms.

    The U.S. Department of Energy gave Oklahoma the $3.5 million to help replace old, energy-guzzling appliances. Similar programs were enacted in other states.

    The rebates, which ranged from $50 for single-room air conditioners to $250 for heat pumps, were available to Oklahoma buyers who bought the appliances at retailers within the state.

Appliances sold under rebate program

Refrigerators: 7,682

Clothes washers: 7,514

Single-room air conditioners: 522

Central air conditioners: 127

Gas furnaces: 64

Water heaters: 336

Ground-source heat pumps: 28

Air-source heat pumps: 82

Total: 16,355

Source: Oklahoma Department of Commerce

Read more from this Tulsa World article at http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=53&articleid=20100527_53_0_Oklaho639421