The Kansas Housing Resources Corporation has launched a new appliance rebate program that rewards low-income households for replacing old, electricity-guzzling household appliances with new energy efficient models.

The Kansas State Energy Efficient Appliance Replacement Program, known popularly as Cash for Appliances, opened earlier this year to applicants who missed out on a previous KHRC program called Residential Appliance Replacement. When that program ended earlier in 2009, 1,500 applicants remained on a waiting list.

While the KHRC had planned to open the program to new low-income applicants depending on the response from those on the waiting list, the demand exceeded available funding. No new applications will be accepted.

The goal of the program is to serve low-income households particularly vulnerable to high energy costs, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities, families with children, and households with a high-energy burden.

Kansas will receive $2.6 million of the nearly $300 million available nationwide from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

For more information on the program, visit the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation Web site or call the state info line at 785-296-8440.