Save energy & turn your fridge into cash

Two electric company rebates can save area residents $75-$250 when they replace their old, inefficient refrigerators with newer more efficient models.

Refrigerators operate 24 hours a day, using more electricity annually than any other appliance in your home. Now is the time to update that old fridge with a $75 recycling rebate from Kansas City Power and Light (KCP&L), and a $250 ENERGY STAR fridge rebate from Kansas City Board of Public Utilities (BPU). Investing in a newer model can save energy immediately and cut utility costs significantly over time.

KCP&L customer rebate

Getting rid of an old, inefficient refrigerator could save you up to $150 annually on your electric bill. With KCP&L, recycling a fridge or freezer could also earn customers $75.

Eligibility requirements include: 1) You must be a KCP&L residential electricity customer in Missouri. 2) The appliance must be a full-size (at least 10 cubic feet) refrigerator or freezer from 2002 or before that’s clean and defrosted. It must be operational and capable of cooling. 3) The appliances should be owned by you and can be picked up at the address on your bill.

To find out if you’re eligible and to schedule a pick up, visit KCP&L or call 855-337-7713.

BPU customer rebate

The BPU rebate program encourages residential customers to replace their older, less efficient refrigerators with an ENERGY STAR qualified appliance that uses less electricity. Customers interested in the program must properly dispose of their old refrigerator before receiving a $250 rebate check.

To receive a BPU Refrigerator Replacement Rebate, customers should do the following: 1) Remove and replace older refrigerators with a new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator from a retailer. Make sure the appliance has the ENERGY STAR label when making the purchase. 2) Request and submit the BPU rebate application by calling 913-573-9997.

• Include a copy of dated sales receipt /invoice showing manufacturer, model number, and purchase price of the new appliance.
• Include a copy of a signed document of disposal of the previously owned refrigerator. Any company or service that picks up the old refrigerator for scrap or recycling can supply this receipt, including the stores that provide old refrigerator disposal with new fridge deliveries.

3) Once completed, customers will receive a mailed check from BPU within six to eight weeks.

This Refrigerator Replacement Rebate program is for BPU residential customers living in the BPU service area, and applies to residential or commercial refrigerators with new ENERGY STAR certifications. Customer must have an active electric account that is in good standing. The rebate is valid for purchases made between January 1 and December 31, 2015, with purchase receipt, removal document, and application postmarked no later than December 31, 2015. One rebate per household/address per customer, and the $250 rebate amount may not exceed the purchase price of the refrigerator.

Pictured: Donated from KCP&L’s Home Appliance Recycling Program, three artists used old, inefficient refrigerators as their canvas during a live art competition at a First Fridays event in Kansas City in August.