BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Throughout the year, Puget Sound Energy will visit communities in the energy company’s electric service area replacing customers’ energy guzzling old refrigerators and clothes washers with efficient models that will save customers energy and money on their monthly bills.
Last year, more than 2,300 PSE electric customers took advantage of the free refrigerator replacement program including clients of the Bremerton Foodline, which provides food boxes to Bremerton residents.
“Many of those referred to PSE’s free refrigerator replacement program were families and seniors living on a fixed income who come to our food bank to stretch their limited food budgets,” said Patti Peterson, Executive Director of Bremerton Foodline. “A favorite elderly client was so pleased with her new refrigerator that she stopped in to complement us for giving her that ‘extra special help’ so she could finally safely store her frozen food.”
Older model refrigerators can use up to four times the energy of newer energy-efficient models. By replacing old refrigerators customers can save up to $200 a year in energy costs. By replacing old clothes washers with an energy efficient model, customers can save up to $100 a year in energy and water on monthly utility bills. It’s less expensive to upgrade to a new ENERGY STAR® refrigerator or clothes washer than to keep old appliances running.
In addition to replacing customers’ inefficient old refrigerators and clothes washers, PSE will remove and recycle the old appliance upon delivery of the new unit, all for free.
Refrigerators will be replaced with ENERGY STAR qualified units of the same cubic feet as customers’ current model. Replacement refrigerators will be a basic, white, single-door, top-freezer model that are quieter than customers’ existing refrigerator and frost-free so they never have to be defrosted.
Clothes washers will be replaced with ENERGY STAR qualified units that fit in the same spot as customers’ current clothes washer. For clothes washers installed on the first-floor or basement level of homes, customers can choose either a front-load or top-load model. For clothes washers installed on the top-floor customers will receive a top-load model. Replacement clothes washers will have multiple wash cycles and run quieter than customers’ current unit.
PSE electric customers are encouraged to call 1-877-341-2314, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to schedule delivery of their new appliance. PSE will visit the following communities:
- Now – March 31 Kitsap County
- April 1 – June 30 King and Pierce counties
- July 1– July 15 Island County
- July 1 – Sept. 30 Whatcom and Skagit counties
- Aug. 1 – Aug.15 Kittitas County
- Oct. 1 – Nov. 30 Thurston County
PSE residential electric customers are eligible to receive both a free refrigerator and clothes washer if both units meet the qualifications. Old refrigerators must be manufactured in or before 1992, in working condition, between 10-30 cubic feet, the primary food storage in the kitchen, and plugged into a properly grounded (3-prong) outlet. Old clothes washers must be manufactured in or before 2003, in working condition, connected to an electric water heater and used with an electric dryer, connected to a properly functioning water hose, and plugged into a grounded (3-prong) outlet. PSE electric customers who live in a single-family home with four or less attached units can visit PSE.com/ApplianceReplacement or call 1-877-341-2314, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to learn if they qualify and to schedule delivery of their new refrigerator or clothes washer, while supplies last.
PSE electric customers who live in a multifamily building with five or more attached units can have their landlord, property manager, or property owner call PSE’s multifamily program hotline at 1-855-291-9574 to learn if they qualify and how to participate.
About Puget Sound Energy
Washington state’s oldest local energy company, Puget Sound Energy serves 1.1 million electric customers and more than 750,000 natural gas customers in 11 counties. A subsidiary of Puget Energy, PSE meets the energy needs of its customers, in part, through cost-effective energy efficiency, procurement of sustainable energy resources, and far-sighted investment in energy-delivery infrastructure. PSE employees are dedicated to providing great customer service that is safe, dependable and efficient. For more information, visit www.PSE.com.