Burbank Water and Power Rebates Give You the Best of Both Worlds: Money and Energy Efficiency
A Word About BWP’s Solar Rebate Program
If you were counting on a solar rebate from Burbank Water & Power, you might be disappointed to know that BWP discontinued its program as of June 30, 2017.
However, the news is not all bad. Burbank residents can still take advantage of California’s solar tax credit. The state’s program includes incentives for solar panel systems as well as solar thermal water heaters.
Currently, the Investment Tax Credit for solar energy is 30% of the total system cost. To qualify, you must initially purchase or own your solar system. If you lease, you will not be eligible. Also, the 30% rate is expected to end by the end of 2019 and drop to 26% for the following year. Therefore, to avoid losing out on that extra 4% deduction, you’ll want to act before the end of the year.
Although Burbank Water and Power no longer offer solar rebates, they still provide plenty of incentives for other energy-saving improvements that its customers will appreciate.
Appliance Rebates & Home Upgrades
You may think that postponing an appliance upgrade is saving you money because you avoid the cost of buying a new one. But the question you should be asking is how much is it costing you on monthly energy bills? While we can debate the issue of, “they just don’t make them like they used to,” the answer to that is, “yes, they don’t make them like they used to.” Today’s appliances are much more energy-efficient than older models.
BWP’s appliance rebates include money back on some large projects like air conditioners, pool pumps, as well as attic and wall insulation. It also includes smaller items like ceiling fans, thermostats, and single-room air conditioning units.
Buy from a Local Burbank Business and Receive An Additional Discount
On top of the appliance rebate, customers receive an additional discount for purchasing their new appliance from a local Burbank retailer – the larger the purchase, the more money you get back from both the product rebate and the local business incentive.
Eligibility Requirements for Appliance Rebates & Home Upgrades
- You must be a Burbank Water & Power Customer.
- Appliances must be purchased new. Your product cannot be used or refurbished.
- The cost of your product cannot be less than the rebate amount.
- It must be an Energy Star rated appliance.
- You must purchase your product first before you can receive a rebate check.
- Apply and submit a copy of your receipt and the Energy Star label.
You may apply for this program by completing the application.
Get Free Products and Services from Burbank Water & Power
BWP offers its Home Improvement Program to encourage residents to switch to products that use less energy. Participation is free, and you receive some nice perks in the form of energy-saving products and services.
So, what do they offer?
It’s better than sticky notepads made from recycled paper. The products include small items like water-saving showerheads and even new toilets. Services include an air conditioning tune-up, sealing air leaks, and insulating your water pipes.
How it Works
Participation in the program is easy. Call BWP to schedule an appointment. A technician will come to your home and make recommendations on how to make your home more energy-efficient. The technician will also perform minor fixes and install some of the free energy-saving products.
To schedule an appointment, call (866)365-7358 or visit the program’s web page.
Trade your Old Refrigerator for a New One
The truth is that old refrigerators waste a lot of energy, and that ends up costing you a lot of money every year. In fact, they are the second biggest energy guzzlers in your home next to your air conditioner. Refrigerators are meant to preserve our food and keep it from spoiling. So, shutting it off to save energy is not really an option.
Burbank Water and Power’s refrigerator exchange program makes it easy for residents to trade their old fridge for newer energy-efficient models. Also, you don’t need to be a homeowner. You can be a renter and participate in the program. However, to be eligible, you must meet the low-income criteria.
The income requirements are as follows:
| Household Size | Annual Income | Household Size | Annual Income |
| 1 | Less than $31,550 | 5 | Less than $48,700 |
| 2 | Less than $36,050 | 6 | Less than $52,300 |
| 3 | Less than $40,550 | 7 | Less than $55,900 |
| 4 | Less than $45,050 | 8 or more | Less than $59,500 |
For Renters Who Don’t Own their Refrigerators
If you’re a renter and you don’t own your refrigerator, you can still participate. There is a supplemental application that your landlord must sign. Also, your landlord must be willing to pay $200 for the refrigerator and be willing to keep it at the property for at least 3 years.
To apply, visit BWP’s refrigerator exchange program web page.
Tune Up your Air Conditioner and Reduce your Cooling Bill
Just like your car needs a tune-up, your a/c also needs one every now and then. Your air conditioning accounts for the majority of your home’s energy use. This is one appliance you want to keep finely tuned at all times.
BWP offers a comprehensive tune-up program to keep your A/C running efficiently. The tune-up includes a thorough diagnostic from a certified technician. The diagnostic checks for common issues such as improper airflow and refrigerant levels. They will also clean out your coils and replace the filter if necessary. You receive a detailed report with before and after results. The program promises to cut your cooling bills by up to 40%, provide better in-home air quality, and add extended durability to your a/c unit.
Like with all rebate programs, there are eligibility requirements. To participate, residents must be current BWP customers and have a working central air conditioning unit in their homes. Portable or wall-mounted units do not qualify.
BWP has a list of contractors from which you must choose for your tune-up service. These HVAC technicians have been certified through the Check Me program developed by a company called Proctor Engineering Group. If you want to use an HVAC technician that’s not on their list, you can have your contractor request to participate by calling (760) 369- 9256.
For a list of approved contractors call (818) 238-3730 or visit BWP’s program web page.
Get Money Back for your Electric Car’s Charging Station
An electric vehicle (EV) is an excellent way to cut your carbon footprint, and the city wants to reward you for it. The charging station rebate comes on top of the state and federal incentives that are available for the purchase of an electric vehicle.
BWP is offering rebates up to $500 for residential customers and up to $2,000 for commercial customers for a Level 2 (240V) electric vehicle charger. Rebate amounts will vary, depending on the type of housing unit or commercial structure. For example, multi-family residential units can qualify for a rebate for up to $1,000. Nevertheless, as long as you’re a BWP customer or charge your vehicle at a station with an active BWP account, you qualify for the rebate.
Keep in mind that this program does require some more steps than others. For example, you will need to submit documentation such as your DMV registration and a photo of the installed charger on your property. In addition, Burbank requires a city permit for EV chargers. But if you ask us, the rebate amount is undoubtedly worth the trouble of going through the application process.
Apply for this program by visiting BWP’s web page.
Get Free Trees that Provide Shade for Your Home or Business
This program requires a bit of elbow grease on your part, but it’s one of our favorites and worth the effort. The cost of shade trees can run as high as $100. The city is offering Burbank residents up to 3 shade trees and up to 20 (yes, 20!) trees for its commercial customers.
You can choose from a list of 30 types of trees, many of which can grow as large as 40 feet. Of course, a tree this large may not make sense for everyone. There are smaller ones available.
Tree varieties include Valley Oak, Dwarf Magnolia, Chinese Tallow Tree, Jacaranda, Peppermint trees, and many more. Some of these variations don’t use up a lot of water. So, in essence, the city is offering free trees that provide you with shade, reduce your cooling bills, beautify your property, and use up little water, what’s not to love!
Get Expert Advice from a Tree Expert
Don’t worry if you don’t have a green thumb. The program includes a visit from an arborist who is an expert in the field of arboriculture. This tree expert will take a look at your property and select the best location for planting your tree.
Renters can Also Participate
Like the refrigerator exchange program, this one is also open to renters. This is perfect if you rent a home with a yard. There are no income requirements for this program, but you will need the property owner’s permission.
How Burbank’s Tree Program Works
- Call Burbank Water and Power’s Shade Tree Program at (818)957-8196 to schedule an appointment with an arborist.
- Meet with the arborist at your home who will choose the best sites to plant your trees.
- Call Dig Alert at 811 to make sure that your selected sites don’t interfere with any utility lines.
- Pick your trees and wait about 3 weeks for delivery.
- Start digging! Once you receive your trees and have been cleared by Dig Alert, you can begin the fun part of planting them.
- Watch them grow and enjoy the benefits of nature’s air conditioning.
Apply for BWP’s tree program by visiting their web page.
As you can see, Burbank Water and Power offer some worthwhile and very generous rebate programs to encourage energy-efficiency among its customers. While it’s unfortunate that the solar rebate program is no longer available, it’s not a reason to put off installing solar panels for your home.
Whether they are energy-efficient or not, all the appliances and electronic devices in your home depend on electricity. Relying on power that’s generated through dirty combustible sources affects both the planet and your wallet in negative ways. To make your home the most energy-efficient and save the most money, you’ll want to rely less on the electric grid and more on mother nature to power your devices.
With the tax credit reduction scheduled for 2020, you will want to act as soon as possible. Markey Electric and Solar offer you free zero-pressure quotes for your solar panel installation project.
In addition, there are many different ways to pay for your solar panels. Various financing options give you plenty of flexibility.
You can make your home more energy efficient in both big and small ways. Take advantage of local city rebates as well as tax credits from the federal and state governments. In the end, you will maximize your return on investment on projects that are good for your pocketbook and the environment.
Have any questions or want to receive a free solar panel quote?
