McKevitt Announces Appliance Replacement Grants

Tropical Storms Irene and Lee left many residents of Nassau County with significant damage to their homes and belongings.

“Fortunately, New York State will be receiving $8 million in federal stimulus funds for the replacement of appliances ruined by flooding," Assemblyman Thomas McKevitt, R-East Meadow, said. "And I want my constituents to be aware that they may qualify for assistance from these grants.”

Homeowners and renters may qualify for grants ranging from $100 for the purchase of a dehumidifier to $2,500 for a boiler. Businesses will not be eligible for these grants and the grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The grants will cover the cost of the appliance up to a capped amount, and thus may only cover part of the item’s total cost.

Applicants will be required to attest that their appliance loss was due to the storms, and that its replacement is not covered by insurance or financial assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. These grants will be retroactive for purchases back to Aug. 29 for damage from Tropical Storm Irene and Sept. 9 for losses from Tropical Storm Lee.

Generally, replacements must meet Energy Star specifications, however, clothes dryers and electric hot water heaters are not Energy Star qualified, and thus, rebates will be provided only for models on the program’s qualifying product list.

These product lists are available at www.nysappliancerebates.com. There are gas hot water heaters that are Energy Star qualified and they are eligible for rebates. The following rebate limits will be placed on these appliances: refrigerators, up to $350; clothes washers, up to $250; clothes dryers with moisture sensor (higher efficiency), up to $250; dehumidifiers, up to $100; furnaces, up to $2,000; boilers, up to $2,500; and hot water heaters (electric-higher efficiency or gas), up to $400.

McKevitt urges his constituents who may qualify for this program to make their application as soon as possible. Homeowners and renters can apply to NYSERDA at www.nysappliancerebates .com or by calling 1-877-697-6278.

“I know that the recent storms we experienced caused not only physical damage to our homes but financial damage to our wallets as well," Assemblyman McKevitt said. “I am very pleased that this grant program was announced to soften the financial hardship on my constituents who are facing the sudden need to replace expensive home appliances.”