DENVER -- The Cash for Appliances program that could save you money on refrigerators, clothes washers, dishwashers and furnaces won't start this month as previously expected. The Governor's Energy Office has announced the rebate Web site for Cash for Appliances won't be ready until April 19, instead of March 31.

A GEO news release explained the delay.

"A statewide program of this magnitude, affecting millions of Coloradans including your homes and businesses, requires the vast coordination of resources from industries and organizations from every corner of the state. The GEO had optimistically hoped to launch March 31, but felt it prudent to take the additional time necessary to ensure their programs were as comprehensive as possible to deliver the optimum engagement and benefit for all Coloradans," according to the news release.

"There are all kinds of programs already in place, offered by different entities already in the state, so we're trying to give customers a one-stop shop," GEO spokesperson Todd Hartman told TheDenverChannel. "The precise step-by-step will be posted on our Web site in the next couple of weeks. It's a challenging undertaking process. The worst thing we could do is to roll something out when it's not ready or when it's not clear it's going to work. A better course of action is to wait a little longer and make sure the consumer experience would be positive."

TheDenverChannel asked if the new April 19 date could also be delayed.

"We are confident of the April 19 launch date," Hartman told TheDenverChannel.

Once the program is active, you'll be able to type in your address and what you bought in a statewide database. That database will explain your rebate. You will then have to mail in your rebate form with the appropriate documents for that purchase.

Once the rebate program takes effect, you could save $50 to $500 on energy star rated appliances such as:

Refrigerators

Clothes Washers

Dishwashers

Water Heaters (gas tankless, high performance, condensing)

Furnace (gas condensing)

Boiler (gas)

"The new site will offer comprehensive and localized information about rebates and financial incentives, goods and services, conservation and money-saving tips, and energy news from across the state, as well as personalized tools and planners -- all of which can have tremendous impact on your energy use and cost-savings," the news release said.

Rebates For Colorado Residents and Businesses

According to the GEO, 75,000 rebates would save Coloradans about $22 million.

At least a dozen states have already started Cash for Appliances rebate programs. Iowa, Kansas and Minnesota are already done with the rebate program.

State-by-state Cash for Appliances Program status

All appliances must be Energy Star rated to qualify. In some cases requirements beyond Energy Star ratings apply. Not all products are eligible. The GEO encourages consumers to review the rebate materials before making purchases.

The GEO said that for an appliance that is deemed eligible, the following rebate level will be paid:

Clothes washers $75

Dishwashers $50

Refrigerators $100 with proof the previous refrigerator was recycled. Proof consists of a receipt from a recycling facility or a receipt from a retailer engaged in an existing recycling agreement with the GEO. A list of retailers will be available in coming weeks.

Refrigerators $50 with no proof of recycling.

Refrigerators must be at least 12 cubic feet in size to qualify.

Furnaces - gas condensing $500

Furnaces must also be rated at an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) greater or equal to 92 percent

Hot water heater -- gas condensing/high performance $200 (minimum efficiency rating available in coming weeks)

Hot water heater - gas tankless $300

Gas boilers -- $400

Residential energy efficiency rebates

Insulation and air sealing -- 20 percent of cost up to $400 (will not exceed $600 if combined with an existing local utility rebate taken by the consumer)

Duct sealing -- 20 percent of cost up to $75 (will not exceed $125 if combined with an existing local utility rebate)

Whole-house energy audit -- tiered rebate of $25 to $100 depending on cost of audit

Whole-house energy monitor -- $50 (will not exceed $100 if combined with an existing local utility rebate)

Renewable energy rebates Note: Rebates are based on system size, calculated per watt. So no hard dollar figure is provided here.

Solar photovoltaic -- 20 to 30 percent. In some cases, rebates combined with local incentives will result in a 50 percent reduction in costs.

Xcel and Black Hills Energy customers are excluded due to existing residential photovoltaic rebates offered through those utilities.

Solar domestic hot water -- 30 percent of the cost

Solar thermal and/or hot water (commercial only -- no pools, spas or snowmelt) --approximately 30 percent of the cost of the system

Small wind (residential) up to 10 kW -- approximately 30 percent of the cost of the system

Small wind (commercial) -- approximately 15 to 20 percent of the cost of the system