Rid the OldFridge and Reap Some Cold Cash
Customers get money now to recycle the spare fridge and save on future electric bills

SMUD will pay customers $35 for their spare operating refrigerator or freezer. Old refrigerators can add up to $125 to an annual electric bill because they use up to three times more power than newer models.

SMUD wants to help customers lower their bills and their energy demand, especially during the hot summer months. When older refrigerators and freezers are taken out of service and recycled, the customer saves money through lower electric bills and the entire community benefits from lowered power demand on the grid, especially when supplies are at their lowest levels, hot summer afternoons.

The SMUD goal is to recycle 8,000 spare refrigerators and freezers, saving more than 1.3 megawatts of electricity annually, enough electricity to power about 1,000 average-sized homes. Interested customers should act soon to take advantage while funds are available. The offer will run until the 8,000-refrigerator/freezer goal is reached and no later than December 31, 2009.

SMUD has contracted with JACO Environmental to pick up the appliances from customers' homes and recycle the old units. JACO is an experienced appliance recycler that will schedule pick-up and transport the appliance to their facility. JACO will then recover and recycle all component parts and properly dispose of potentially harmful chemicals found in the cooling system and insulation.

There are some program guidelines: 1) The refrigerator or freezer must be in working condition, and between 10 and 27 cubic feet in size to qualify, 2) Up to two units may be recycled per residential address, 3) The refrigerator-recycling program is done on a "first-come-first-served” basis.

SMUD customers can sign up for the program by contacting SMUD’s contractor, JACO, toll-free, at 1-800-299-7573 or by visiting smud.org and clicking on the Rebates tab.