In 2009, AmerenUE’s 127,000 Missouri residential and commercial natural gas customers will again be able to obtain rebates for a portion of the cost of purchasing and installing certain new ENERGY STAR®-qualified energy-efficient natural gas equipment. The program is patterned after successful rebate programs UE has conducted since 2005, but the new program expands the number of products and efficiency measures that qualify.
“Like our previous rebate programs, the goal of UE’s 2009 Missouri Energy Efficient Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program is to generate awareness for the ENERGY STAR label,” says Greg Lovett, UE managing supervisor, Energy Efficiency Products and Services. “Through the rebates, we want to help our customers save energy and money by replacing older, inefficient equipment with highly efficient ENERGY STAR-qualified products and taking other high efficiency measures.”
For residential customers, the program offers rebates for a portion of the cost of purchasing and installing ENERGY STAR-qualified programmable thermostats, furnaces and boilers. For commercial customers, the program offers rebates for a portion of the cost of ENERGY STAR-qualified programmable thermostats, furnaces, fryers and steamers. High energy efficiency equipment rebates are also available for part of the cost of making certain energy efficiency improvements to existing equipment, such as a boiler tune up, steam trap repairs or replacement, primary air damper replacement, and modulating burner upgrade.
All qualifying equipment must be purchased by Dec. 31, 2009, and installed by Jan. 31, 2010. Applications must be postmarked by Feb. 28, 2010, to qualify for the rebate.
To obtain the rebate, UE customers must submit a rebate form with required documentation to the address on the form. Rebate forms and full program details are available by visiting the Ameren Web site (www.ameren.com) and clicking on “Natural Gas Center.” Customers may also get information or request rebate forms by calling 314-342-1111 in the St. Louis area, or 800-552-7583 elsewhere.
To find qualifying ENERGY STAR equipment, go to a local retailer who sells these products, call a local contractor who installs this equipment, or visit the official ENERGY STAR Web site: www.energystar.gov.
Rebates are subject to available funding, so anyone who wishes to take advantage of the program is encouraged to apply early. Before purchasing and installing a qualified natural gas furnace or commercial natural gas utilization equipment, customers must call 1-800-210-8131 for a Reservation Code. This code will help ensure that sufficient funds for the rebate are still available. Reservations are valid for 90 days from the date of issue. A reservation code is not needed for programmable thermostats.
Rebate checks will be mailed within eight to 10 weeks after the submission of a completed rebate form.
Funded by UE as part of a 2007 natural gas rate case agreement, the Missouri Energy Efficient Natural Gas Equipment Rebate Program was developed by a collaborative team that included representatives of UE, the Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC), the Missouri Office of Public Counsel, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The program’s goal is to promote more efficient use of natural gas by encouraging the replacement of inefficient natural gas equipment with highly-efficient ENERGY STAR products.
ENERGY STAR is a government-backed symbol providing valuable, unbiased information to business and consumers. ENERGY STAR was originally introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency, stressing the power of the individual in making a difference and that the environmental choice provides energy savings without compromising quality or comfort. Today, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy, the program offers businesses and consumers energy efficient solutions to save energy and money and to help protect the environment. More information about ENERGY STAR can be found at the following Web site: www.energystar.gov.
With 1.2 million customers, UE is Missouri’s largest electric company and third largest provider of natural gas. UE’s parent, Ameren Corporation, through its operating companies, serves 2.4 million electric and 1 million natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Illinois and Missouri.
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CONTACT: Mike Cleary, 573.681.7137, of AmerenUE