AMARILLO, Texas (April 16, 2019) – Xcel Energy is paying Texas customers $50 for old refrigerators and freezers as part of a Texas energy efficiency program that helps customers save money and frees up power resources to meet future growth.
“If you own an older, less efficient freezer or refrigerator, now is a good time to think about replacing it because new units use about half as much electricity as older ones,” said Bryan Whitson, who manages efficiency programs for Xcel Energy in Texas. “When you combine these savings with the benefits of other efficiency improvements such as LED lighting, you can see real savings on monthly electric bills.”
The recycling program aims to enhance those savings by offering the $50 incentive and providing free, in-home pick-up service for older units. The advantage for Xcel Energy is that lower household use helps the company better manage power supplies on peak days, Whitson said. And long-term, efficiency measures free up power supplies generated by existing power plants for use in meeting future growth – a less expensive option than building new power facilities.
Refrigerator recycling started as a pilot program in Amarillo in 2018, and is now available to all Texas customers of Xcel Energy. The service is provided by ARCA Inc., which has a 30-year history of responsibly recycling old refrigerators and freezers. Customers call ARCA at 1-888-564-7003 to arrange a pick-up time. The refrigerators must be in working condition, and no more than two units per household will be accepted. Customers receive a $50 check in the mail for each unit recycled.
More information can be found at xcelenergy.com by following the “Programs & Rebates” link from the top of the homepage.
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About Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy (NASDAQ: XEL) provides the energy that powers millions of homes and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the company is an industry leader in responsibly reducing carbon emissions and producing and delivering clean energy solutions from a variety of renewable sources at competitive prices. For more information, visit xcelenergy.com or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
