Rebate money more than half gone

Nebraskans greeted the arrival of the appliance rebate program with a wave of purchases Tuesday that reduced the approximately $1.7 million available to about $785,000 by 9:30 p.m.

Although the rebate money was being claimed quickly — $1,000 a minute at one point during the morning — retailers and shoppers were pleased with the delayed but eagerly anticipated introduction of the federally funded program.

“We are a little surprised by the number of people participating . . . but that's great,” Ginger Langemeier, director of the Nebraska Energy Office, said Tuesday afternoon.

Nebraska residents could receive rebates ranging from $100 to $250 on purchases of certain energy-efficient central air conditioners, clothes washers, refrigerators, dishwashers, air-source heat pumps, and natural gas and propane furnaces.

Langemeier said the money was going more quickly than anticipated, and she hoped the funds would last through the first day. Tuesday afternoon, the office reallocated $220,000 from program administrative funds into the rebate pool.

Meeting in advance with retailers and appliance installers was crucial in the state's ability to craft an effective program, she said.

“Understanding it from the sellers' perspective gave us the opportunity to operate the program a little differently,” she said. “We really want to give everybody a fair chance to get out and make their purchases.”

Langemeier's predecessor, Neil Moseman, had said that Nebraska officials learned by watching what worked and what didn't in other states' programs.

Brion Westphal, manager of Sears in Lincoln, said it was “a big benefit” that the state took time to fine-tune the program.

“I think the state did a good job,” he said.

Congress allocated stimulus funds for the rebate program last year as a way to boost the economy and reduce energy use. States received varying amounts depending on their populations and were allowed to determine the rules and starting dates of the program.

“We are excited about how the program is working,” Langemeier said.

Bob Batt, vice president of Nebraska Furniture Mart, said Tuesday afternoon that business had been steady since the store opened at 8 a.m., two hours earlier than normal.

As of 3 p.m., there still was rebate money for everyone, he said. “That's a good thing.”

Some shoppers, such as Kurt and Sandy Tysinger of Ashland, arrived early to ensure that they'd get rebates. They were in line almost two hours before the doors opened.

Thirty to 40 people were waiting at Sears at Crossroads Mall when the doors opened at 7 a.m.

Some people, including the Tysingers, visited retailers over the long holiday weekend to view the selection and pick out their appliances, so they would be ready to buy Tuesday morning.

Connie Carroll of Omaha said a Furniture Mart employee told her that she should be able to get a rebate if she showed up sometime on Tuesday.

“So far, so good,” she said. “They've done a really nice job.”

Like the Furniture Mart, many appliance stores were staffed for crowds.

At the Lowe's store at 7525 Dodge St., 14 people were waiting in line when the doors opened at 6:58 a.m. Most already knew what they wanted to buy, and several had model numbers already in hand as they lined up to make their purchases.

Buyers went through three stations. First, they submitted their purchase orders. Then another employee at a different computer applied electronically for the rebate and printed out a confirmation form for the buyer to complete, sign and mail. Finally, the customer paid a checker.

Not all stores reported a flurry of sales. Jeanie Tiltscher, whose husband owns the Appliance Center in Ogallala, said the store received a lot of inquiries, and traffic into the store was up, but sales Tuesday morning were slow.

“It's not what I anticipated,” she said.

Westfahl, at the Lincoln Sears store, said 55 people were waiting when it opened and business was steady through the early afternoon.

Gary Salerno, appliance and electronics manager of Sears at Crossroads Mall, said the crowd thinned about 10 a.m. before picking up again around noon.

Kurt and Sandy Tysinger completed their purchases by 8:30 a.m.

“That's $400” saved, Kurt said with a smile, holding up the rebate paperwork as he and his wife left the store.

Households could apply for two rebates on different products. The Nebraska Energy Office's website tracks how much rebate money has been claimed and how much is left.

World-Herald staff writer Christopher Burbach contributed to this report.

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