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The popular rebate program administered by the California Energy Commission will close in
phases, beginning with the home appliances, which ends Dec. 6, 2010.
Applications for water heaters and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems must be postmarked by Dec. 31, 2010.
Since April, more than 160,000 applications have been received with approximately $4.5 million still available. Consumers can choose from a variety of eligible models, which can be viewed at
www.cash4appliances.org/products/ .
New and corrected applications must be postmarked by Dec. 6, 2010, for consumers who purchase home appliances including, refrigerators, clothes washers, room air conditions, freezers, and dishwashers. Rebates are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis for complete applications with the required supporting documents.
With less than $4.5 million remaining in the program, this gives consumer's additional time to take advantage of the sales offered by retailers during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year.
The California Energy Commission has partnered with more than 80 Platinum Retail Partners and more than 50 Official Partners to assist consumers with appliance purchases, recycling their old appliances and completing their application.
A list of partners is available at www.cash4appliances.org/partners/list.html .
Consumers will need to work with a licensed California contractor for the installations of water heaters and heating and cooling units.
Consumers should check with PG&E and the State of California Contractor's State License Board (CSLB) for lists of contractors in their area and How to Hire a Contractor:
www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/HireAContractor/ .
Consumers are eligible for a rebate when they purchase a qualified high energy efficient appliance, water heater, or heating and cooling units, properly recycle their old appliance or system, and submit a complete application package. Instructions on how to complete an application for the California Cash for Appliances rebate is available at www.cash4appliances.org/consumers/Rebate-Form.pdf .
A consumer will need to enter their unique tracking number or their last name, phone number, and type of appliance that was purchased. Consumers who need to correct their rebate application can contact their retailer or contractor, call the toll-free number at 1-888-390-4034, or e-mail the Energy Commission at:
Eligible energy efficient home appliances and rebate amounts available are: refrigerators $200, clothes washers $100, dishwashers $100, freezers $50, and room air conditioners up to $50. Rebates for eligible water heaters are $300-$750, and eligible HVAC systems qualify for $500 to $1000.
Consumer tips to speed rebate processing:
1. Read the steps. Read the steps on rebate application and include all of the required supporting documentation.
2. Fill out form completely and correctly. Do not leave any items blank on the application. Check the appropriate boxes and sign the application. For HVAC and Water Heaters a California licensed contractor will assist the consumer with the application.
3. Be consistent. Make sure that the applicant's first and last name matches the name on the certificate of recycling and the name on the utility bill. Only one first and last name is required on the application. The Certificate of Recycling and Utility Bill are only required for Clothes Washers, Refrigerators, Room Air Conditioners, Freezers, and Dishwashers. HVAC and Water Heater applications must list
the Certified Appliance Recyclers (CAR) name and CAR number.
4. Recycle. Consumers must recycle their old appliance to receive a rebate. The Certificate of Recycling document must be included with the application. If a consumer is participating in their utility rebate program, the utility will provide the consumer with the required Cash for Appliances Certificate of Recycling. Lake County residents must recycle their old appliances at South Lake Refuse and Recycling, who will issue a Recycling Form. Recycling Forms can only be issued at South Lake Refuse and Recycling to be eligible for the Cash for Appliances Rebate program. For more information on how to properly recycle an old appliance, visit: www.cash4appliances.org/consumers/recycle.html .
5. Correct postage. Affix proper postage before mailing your rebate application.
Lake County residents who wish to participate in the Cash for Appliances must bring their old appliances to the only certified recycler in Lake County, South Lake Refuse and Recycling, who will issue a Recycling Form. South Lake Refuse and Recycling is located at the entrance of the Eastlake Landfill, 16015 Davis Street, Clearlake, and open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Residents in the unincorporated areas who wish to recycle appliances any time without participating in the Cash for Appliances program may call their hauler to schedule a “Bulky Item Pick-Up” for a $10 fee.
All county residents may drop-off appliances at Lake County Waste Solutions, 230 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport in addition to South Lake Refuse and Recycling also for a $10 fee.
Additional information also is available through retailer locations throughout the county and consumers can call the toll-free number for questions at 888-390-4034.
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The body of 56-year-old Donnie Kelly Foster was discovered Wednesday morning, according to Lt. Rusty Noe of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Noe said deputies were dispatched shortly before 9 a.m. Wednesday to Brewery Gulch on the report of body found on the beach.
When they arrived, they identified Foster, whose body had appeared to have been washed up on the beach by the tide, Noe said.
Foster had been reported overdue Tuesday evening after last being seen at 3 p.m. in the area of Mendocino Bay in his 7-foot blue whitewater kayak, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb.
Smallcomb said the U.S. Coast Guard had begun an ocean search Wednesday using their helicopter and motor life boat in the area where Foster had last been seen
Foster was visiting the Mendocino Coast with his wife for the Thanksgiving holiday, Smallcomb said.
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The fire was reported at Kingfisher Mobile Home Park, located at 5845 Old Highway 53, early Tuesday afternoon.
Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief Willie Sapeta said firefighters were dispatched to the fire at approximately 12:16 p.m. and arrived exactly six minutes later.
Two engines, one water tender, a rescue unit, two battalion chiefs and two medics were dispatched to the incident, Sapeta said.
When firefighters arrived on scene, they found the older singlewide mobile home fully involved, according to Sapeta.
The older male resident suffered smoke inhalation and was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, Sapeta said.
Because of the man's injuries, Sapeta said medical personnel were discussing flying him out of the county for treatment.
As the firefighters were dealing with the call, a medical aid for a stroke victim was dispatched at a nearby home, Sapeta said.
Sapeta said it took about two and a half hours to contain and mop up the fire.
“It was an older mobile home. We had to tear everything apart and get into it,” to make sure a fire didn't reoccur, he said.
Sapeta said the home was a complete loss.
The cause is still under investigation, he said.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
So far this week there have been several situations where people have become stranded or suffered exposure from the winter weather in the forest, as Lake County News has reported.
In one case, 12 people became stranded in the snow on the Mendocino County side of the forest on Sunday, with some of them not being reached by Search and Rescue until Monday, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Three people on the Lake County side of the forest above Upper Lake had to be assisted by a U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer on Sunday, according to Mendocino National Forest spokesperson Tamara Schmidt.
Then on Tuesday morning, there was a report of travelers on Forest Highway 7 getting stuck, Schmidt said.
“Road conditions are pretty dicey,” Schmidt said.
She said that the Mendocino National Forest's off-highway vehicle trail system currently is closed because of the weather, which has included snow in the higher elevations over the past week.
Schmidt said the forest is seeing an increase in activity due to people going up to pick out Christmas trees, the permits for which went on sale last week.
The Christmas tree permits will be available through Dec. 17, and are good through Dec. 24. The cost is $10 per tree, with a limit of one tree per household.
Schmidt said the Mendocino National Forest sells about 3,000 tree permits annually, with the money going back into the general fund.
“It ends up going back to the treasury, so it's not really staying here in the forest,” she said.
To find out more about the Christmas tree permits and where to purchase them, see Mendocino National Forest Christmas tree permits available .
For those planning to visit the forest this weekend for outdoors activities and Christmas tree hunts, Schmidt urged them to be cautious.
If road conditions are deteriorating, turn back, she said.
Anyone driving into the forest should be prepared for cold and changing conditions, Schmidt said.
She suggested that visitors take common sense precautions, including telling people where they are going and when they are coming back, and leaving for the trip with a full tank of gas.
All Mendocino National Forest offices will be closed on Thanksgiving.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
The end of the year for most Americans means preparing for feasts, festivities and fun throughout the holiday season. But each year that joy is marred by tragedy when accidents and fires cause injuries and even death.
Thanksgiving remains the leading day for home cooking fires with three times as many cooking fires as an average day, according to statistics by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
In fact, on Thanksgiving Day 2009, Cal Fire crews responded to more than 600 emergency incidents and sadly one person died in a home fire.
“Every holiday the number of emergencies Cal Fire responds to increases,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, acting Cal Fire director. “While that’s our job, we certainly don’t want to respond to your house this Thanksgiving because there was a fire or someone was burned. We want everyone to have a safe holiday season.”
To help reduce the chance of fire and injuries associated with holiday cooking, Cal Fire offers the following tips:
Never leave cooking food unattended. Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling, or broiling food.
If you leave the kitchen for even a short period time, turn off the stove.
Cooking food should always be supervised by an adult.
Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and other material that can burn. Never use on wooden decks or in garages.
Children should not be permitted near a turkey fryer since hot oil can cause serious burn injuries.
Provide a level surface that is free of ignitable materials when using turkey fryers.
Make sure a fire extinguisher is handy at all times. Never use water to put out a grease fire.
Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles.
For more information on fire safety, visit www.fire.ca.gov.
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UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A Monday morning crash involving a semi truck resulted in minor injuries for the driver and blocked a portion of Highway 20 for several hours.
The crash occurred at Mid Lake Road near Blue Lakes just before 8:30 a.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.
Northshore Fire Battalion Chief Pat Brown said the semi truck driver tried to dodge an animal on the highway and went into the embankment.
The CHP reported that the crash blocked the eastbound lane, with the westbound lane later reported to be blocked as well.
Brown said about 70 gallons of diesel was spilled as a result of the crash.
“We captured some of it but not all of it,” he said.
None of the diesel went into Blue Lakes; Brown said it stayed in a culvert area.
Brown said he and Northshore Fire Chief Jim Robbins responded to the scene, along with two medics and an engine.
Also responding were CHP and the Lake County Sheriff's Office, and Lake County Environmental Health, the CHP said.
Brown said Environmental Health actually took control of the scene along with CHP.
CHP said the roadway was fully reopened at 12:20 p.m.
Later in the day, at about 2 p.m., a FedEx truck carrying two people reportedly overturned on New Long Valley Road near Clearlake Oaks.
Brown said there were no injuries in that incident.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
