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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Minnesota Appliance Rebates

For more information, download the Minnesota state appliance program fact sheet PDF.
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Spotlight on Minnesota - See Our Program Impact

THIS PROGRAM IS CLOSED. AS OF NOVEMBER 29, 2010, ALL OF MINNESOTA'S REBATE FUNDS HAVE BEEN RESERVED.

The State of Minnesota implemented a mail-in rebate program to help residents replace older, inefficient appliances with new, ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances. This program reopened on November 17, 2010. As of November 29, 2010, all of Minnesota's rebate funds have been reserved. Purchases made on or after March 1, 2010 were eligible with proof of purchase.

Eligible products included

  • Refrigerators
  • Freezers
  • Clothes washers
  • Dishwashers

Consumers were required to "self-certify" proper recycling of replaced clothes washers and dish washers. Consumers could only receive one rebate, whether during the first phase of the program or the reopening.

NOTE: For questions about your rebate such as status, timeline, and rebate amount, please contact your state's program directly through their Web site.

Contact: Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security

Total Funding: $5,009,000

Program information subject to change. Rebates may be offered for a limited time only. Before purchasing a product, check with your program sponsor to ensure rebates are available, and to confirm product eligibility and program requirements. Products purchased must meet efficiency criteria as established by the state.

Program Impact:
Minnesota Rebates Gobbled Up Quickly!

A replaced appliance destined for recycling.

When delivering a new appliance, Warners' Stellian delivery staff removes the old one for recycling.

Consumer excitement was at a fever pitch as the Minnesota "Trade-in & Save" Appliance Program launched. Residents claimed nearly 26,000 reservations within 25 hours of the program launching. As of June 20, 2010, more than $3.6 million in rebates had been awarded to 20,200 Minnesota residents who replaced their old appliances with new ENERGY STAR® qualified models.

"The rebate amounts were set high enough to entice consumers to trade up to the most energy efficient appliance they could afford," stated Karen Loida, program manager at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Office of Energy Security, "We set rebate amounts much higher than traditional utility rebates." The program was extremely effective not only in raising consumer awareness about the high costs of operating inefficient appliances, but also in educating residents about the need to properly recycle old appliances to keep harmful materials out of the environment.

An extra rebate aimed at enticing consumers to properly dispose of their appliances got their attention. Bounty programs tapped into the services of Minnesota's own Appliance Recyclers of America (ARCA) as well as local waste sites. "Electric utilities across the state that sponsored appliance recycling programs for energy conservation saw a boost in customer participation due to cooperative efforts with the Office of Energy Security," stated Rachel Holmes, ARCA's vice president of business development and environmental affairs, "as a result, Minnesota residents—and our environment—reaped tremendous benefits." Minnesota Power also saw increased interest in their "Refrigerator Round-Up" program. Tina Koecher, Minnesota Power's energy efficiency manager, stated, "The resulting energy savings, business to retailers, and consumer incentives were all positive outcomes."

Retailers were also willing beneficiaries as consumers upgraded their appliances. On the day of the program launch, Warners' Stellian recorded its biggest retail day in history. They organized a "Simplify the Stimulus" press event that resulted in preview coverage of the program in both daily newspapers and all four major local TV news stations. Grassroots promotion through blogging, informational e-newsletters customers could sign up for in the stores and social media helped sales associates assist customers in securing a rebate reservation through the program's Web site. "Our in-store sales increased 40% in March and April over last year," said Jeff Warner, president of Warners' Stellian.

State contact: Jeff Haase, 651-296-5175
DOE contact: Lani MacRae, 202-586-9193
Visit: www.mnappliancerebate.com and www.energysavers.gov/rebates