The cash for clunkers program last year brought a lot of revenue to the auto industry. Customers got HUGE incentives for trading in their clunker car, truck, van or SUV when they bought a brand new car. They got even more savings when they bought a hybrid. The program was a success and thousands of customers got new cars and we helped save the ozone layer.
Fast forward a year or so...
The next stimulus that hit was the cash for clunkers appliance program. This program was designed to help customers who were using non energy star appliances, trade those "clunkers" in and get a new more energy efficient model at a discounted rate. Each state pretty much got a dollar per person to spend at their own discretion. The state of Massachusetts has about 6.2 million people living here so we got...$6.2 million to spend in rebates as we saw fit.
I think there was only one state that was offering bigger rebates than we were. Mind you, we as the people of Massachusetts, had rebate dollar breakdowns that looked like this:
Refrigerator: $200
Washer: $175
Dishwasher: $250
Freezer: $75
Kansas on the other hand, decided to distribute their rebates like this:
Refrigerator: $700
Washer: $800
Dishwasher: $400
Freezer: $600
Wow. I think the weirdest thing about Kansas is that the program started on December 15th and lasted until January 28th before the $2.7 million was depleted. Massachusetts so far is the quickest of the ten states/territories to deplete their money and we did it at a record rate. The money went at $50,000 per minute and roughly $833 per second. Texas was also completed on the same day but they weren't as quick as Massachusetts.
So, all in all, it was great for all the appliance dealers, AND was even bigger for those customers who ACTUALLY got through and got a reservation. Now we all know that the computers crashed, that the phone lines only took 133 out of 900,000+ phone calls, etc. etc. etc...BUT. The state DID step up and gave all those $6.2 million to those who reserved it, and also the additional $2 million in "waiting" will also get their check from the state later this spring/early summer. But what about all who wasn't able to participate?
According to mass.gov, "In addition, the Patrick-Murray Administration will offer a new round of energy efficient appliance rebates this summer. These rebates will be awarded through a lottery or other random selection method, rather than on first come-first served basis. Details will be announced here in coming weeks."
Here's to hoping round 2 is a little better!
Take Care,
-Brian
Fast forward a year or so...
The next stimulus that hit was the cash for clunkers appliance program. This program was designed to help customers who were using non energy star appliances, trade those "clunkers" in and get a new more energy efficient model at a discounted rate. Each state pretty much got a dollar per person to spend at their own discretion. The state of Massachusetts has about 6.2 million people living here so we got...$6.2 million to spend in rebates as we saw fit.
I think there was only one state that was offering bigger rebates than we were. Mind you, we as the people of Massachusetts, had rebate dollar breakdowns that looked like this:
Refrigerator: $200
Washer: $175
Dishwasher: $250
Freezer: $75
Kansas on the other hand, decided to distribute their rebates like this:
Refrigerator: $700
Washer: $800
Dishwasher: $400
Freezer: $600
Wow. I think the weirdest thing about Kansas is that the program started on December 15th and lasted until January 28th before the $2.7 million was depleted. Massachusetts so far is the quickest of the ten states/territories to deplete their money and we did it at a record rate. The money went at $50,000 per minute and roughly $833 per second. Texas was also completed on the same day but they weren't as quick as Massachusetts.
So, all in all, it was great for all the appliance dealers, AND was even bigger for those customers who ACTUALLY got through and got a reservation. Now we all know that the computers crashed, that the phone lines only took 133 out of 900,000+ phone calls, etc. etc. etc...BUT. The state DID step up and gave all those $6.2 million to those who reserved it, and also the additional $2 million in "waiting" will also get their check from the state later this spring/early summer. But what about all who wasn't able to participate?
According to mass.gov, "In addition, the Patrick-Murray Administration will offer a new round of energy efficient appliance rebates this summer. These rebates will be awarded through a lottery or other random selection method, rather than on first come-first served basis. Details will be announced here in coming weeks."
Here's to hoping round 2 is a little better!
Take Care,
-Brian
0 comments:
Post a Comment