Consumer Information

FOR WAITING LIST ONLY
APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED AS OF
DECEMBER 31, 2011 AND WILL BE AWARDED
ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVE BASIS, IF
FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE.

Getting Your Rebate for Water Heaters

Step 1: Choose a Water Heater

Choose the system from the list of eligible water heaters.

Qualifying Heat Pump Water Heaters (HTML page)
Qualifying Heat Pump Water Heaters (Excel file 17 kb)
Qualifying High-Efficiency Gas Storage Water Heaters (HTML page)
Qualifying High-Efficiency Gas Storage Water Heaters (Excel file, 32 kb)
Qualifying Solar Water Heaters (HTML page)
Qualifying Solar Water Heaters (Excel file)

Step 2: Find a Licensed California Contractor

Select a licensed contractor to install and recycle your old unit. Check with your local utility and the State of California Contractor’s State License Board (CSLB) for lists of contractors in your area and How to Hire a Contractor:

www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/HireAContractor/

Consumers should request bids from more than one contractor
Check your contractor’s license through the CSLB:
1-800-321-CSLB (2752)
Ask for references
Hire only licensed contractors

To participate in the Cash for Appliances contractors MUST:

Have a valid California contractor's license number
Finalize the building permit and supply to the consumer

For Solar Water Heater installations:

Contractors must follow the California Public Utilities (CPUC) California Solar Initiative (CSI) Guidelines.
www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/solarwater/index.php
Contractors must be an approved CSI contractor. To become an approved contractor, visit:
www.gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov/professionals/contractors.php
Complete all relevant Solar Rating Certification Corporations (SRCC) product rating documentation and supply to the consumer

Step 3: Complete Application with Your Contractor

Coordinate with your contractor to fill out the application form. The application has specific information for the contractor to complete.
The Buyer is responsible for completing the remaining sections of the
form and mailing.

Rebate Application Form (PDF document)

Step 4: Recycle Old water heater

Recycle the old unit and have the contractor complete the recycling information on the application. Contractors are required to recycle the old unit with a Certified Appliance Recycler for a consumer to receive a rebate: www.cash4appliances.org/consumers/recycle.html

NOTE:

All Appliances and HVAC and Water Heater systems MUST be recycled with a Certified Appliance Recycler (CAR) to be in compliance with the rebate program rules. Rebates will not be awarded if equipment is not properly recycled with a CAR. California law requires that appliances, and certain materials within appliances, be properly handled.

Appliances are valuable sources of scrap metal when they become obsolete or are no longer needed. However, some of the components in appliances contain materials that can cause health or environmental problems if they are not removed and properly managed prior to recycling. The details of the Certified Appliance Recycler laws can be found on the California Department of Toxic Substances Control website at: http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/HazardousWaste/
Mercury/Certified_Appliance_Recycler.cfm

Step 5: Mail Application within 120 days of purchase

Mail the completed and signed rebate application form, a copy of your sales contract and paid invoice, copy of the Certificate of AHRI, Duct Test/Energy Efficiency survey or audit/or Title 24 documentation, additional equipment certification documents, and final signed off building permit to:

California Cash for Appliances – Water Heater
California Energy Commission
1516 9th Street, MS-100
Sacramento, CA 95814

Applications are First Come-First Serve, until funds are depleted. Check the status of the available funds at:
http://www.cash4appliances.org/stats/index.html

Toll-free Phone Number: 1-888-390-4034

Customer Service reps will be available to answer questions from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. PDT, Monday thru Friday. Automated information will be available 24/7.

To check the status of a rebate claim, call the toll-free information hotline at 1-888-390-4034.

Existing Applications

Application forms are only available for correcting EXISTING applications. Only complete applications for eligible systems that comply with all program Terms and Conditions will be awarded a rebate. Corrections to existing applications must be postmarked no later than 30 days from the letter postmark.

If you need a new form for an existing application, you can download it here.

*The Energy Commission is currently reviewing all applications that were not processed to ensure accuracy in processing.

Rebates

Get Cash and Save Energy on Water Heaters:

Electric Heat Pump – $300
High Performance Gas Storage – $100
Solar (electricity or natural gas back- up) – $750

Additional details and requirements.

Rules

Must be a California resident with a valid street address. Post office box addresses do not qualify.

Must purchase a new California eligible appliance to replace an existing model.

Rebates for refrigerators, clothes washers, and room air conditioners: Make purchase during rebate period from Earth Day, April 22, 2010, through December 6, 2010, from a California retailer. (Note: This is a first-come, first-serve program.) Home Appliance Applications MUST be postmarked by December 6, 2010. This includes applications for Refrigerators, Washers, Room Air-Conditioners, Freezers, and Dishwashers.

Rebates for freezers and dishwashers: Make purchase during rebate period from July 29, 2010 through December 6, 2010, from a California retailer. No out-of-state or internet purchases. (Note: This is a first-come, first-serve program.) Home Appliance Applications MUST be postmarked by December 6, 2010. This includes applications for Refrigerators, Washers, Room Air-Conditioners, Freezers, and Dishwashers.

Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning units, and water heaters: Make purchase during rebate period from, July 29, 2010, through December 31, 2010, from a California retailer or licensed California contractor. No out-of-state or internet purchases. (Note: This is a first-come, first-serve program.) Applications for HVAC and Water Heater systems MUST be postmarked by December 31, 2010. All applications received after this date will be placed on the waiting list.

NOTE:
THE WAITING LIST FOR THE HVAC AND WATER HEATER REBATE PROGRAM WILL CLOSE ON DECEMBER 31, 2011. APPLICATIONS MUST BE POSTMARKED AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2011 AND WILL BE AWARDED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVE BASIS, IF FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE.

All new rebate applications postmarked after December 31, 2010 will be placed on a waiting list and awarded on a first-come, first serve basis as funds are available. The closure of the waiting list will be announced at a later date based on the availability of funds.

Must recycle the existing, inefficient appliance, HVAC unit, and water heater through a California Certified Recycler. Recycling services for appliances may also be provided by Platinum retailers, utility-buy back programs, and your city or county governments.

NOTE:

Consumers can receive one rebate for each type of appliance. Separate rebate and recycling forms are required for each rebate. *For HVAC systems: consumers can apply for both a cooling unit (air condition or heat pump systems) and heating unit (furnace or boiler) rebate.

The appliance must be installed (hooked up) before submitting the rebate claim. The consumer, if asked, must allow access for an inspector to verify installations.

Must submit a completed rebate application within 120-days of the date of purchase that includes proof of residency, purchase and recycling.

Required Documents

For water heaters the complete rebate application must include ALL of the following :

Completed and signed rebate application form with all required consumer and contractor information.
Copy of the executed contract and paid invoice between you and your installation contractor
Copy of Solar Rating Certification Corporations (SRCC) product rating documentation
Final signed off building permit, specifying installation address.