Ameren Missouri has extended its program that offers residential customers rebates for a portion of the cost of purchasing certain Energy star-rated qualified electric appliances. The program began in March, 2010, and was originally scheduled to end Sept. 30, but it has now been extended to Sept. 30, 2011.

The program has also been expanded to include mail-in rebates of $50 on the purchase of qualified water coolers and room air cleaner / purifiers. Rebates of $25 are also still available for  dehumidifiers and $50 on freezers and room air conditioners.

Up to three air cleaners, three air conditioners, two dehumidifiers, one freezer,
and one water cooler are eligible for a rebate for each Ameren Missouri
residential electric customer. Visit www.Uefficiency.com to see what appliances qualify and how to submit for a rebate. Forms are also available at retail locations listed on
the website.

Ameren customers can also purchase compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs at discounted prices through a partnership with more than 250 retail stores.

Spokesman Mike Cleary says funding has run out for natural-gas appliance rebates, but says Ameren is working with the Public Service Commission to see if money can be transferred from the commercial program to fill demand in the residential program.

That decision, he says, is pending.

He urges all customers to visit the www.Uefficiency.com website to see how to make their homes more efficient. He says there are a host of tools available to see how much energy customers are using and how to bring that usage — and costs — down.

Jessica Machetta reports [Mp3, 1:10 min.]