ATLANTA, July 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power's EarthCents® Refrigerator Recycling Program has increased its incentive for recycling old refrigerators and freezers from $35 to $50.

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The program gives Georgia Power customers with second working refrigerators and freezers a quick, convenient and effective way to conserve energy and save money on their electric bills. Older refrigerators and freezers, often kept in garages and basements, can use as much as four times more energy than the newer ENERGY STAR® models.

An estimated 235,000 secondary refrigerators around the state are more than 10 years old and predate higher energy efficiency standards set for new models. Customers who remove these inefficient appliances from their home can save up to $150 a year in electricity costs.   

"If you have one of these old refrigerators or freezers and you are a Georgia Power customer, participating in the Refrigerator Recycling Program is a great way to reduce your household energy costs and put money back into your pocket," said Angela Strickland, Georgia Power's director of energy efficiency.

Customers who have older, energy-wasting refrigerators or freezers that are still in working condition can contact Georgia Power to arrange a free in-home pickup and receive $50 cash back. 

To find out if your appliance qualifies for the Georgia Power incentive or to schedule a free in-home pickup, customers can call 1-866-446-9250 or visit www.georgiapower.com/refrigerator. You must be a Georgia Power residential customer and there is a limit of two units per residential account per year. The new, higher incentive will be available based on customer participation.

Once the old units are removed, they are disassembled and recycled in an environmentally friendly way.

The Refrigerator Recycling Program is a part of Georgia Power's EarthCents initiative, which offers residential and business customers a portfolio of energy efficiency programs to help them save money, use energy efficiently and help the environment.

Georgia Power is the largest subsidiary of Southern Company, one of the nation's largest generators of electricity. The company is an investor-owned, tax-paying utility with rates below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.4 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.

SOURCE Georgia Power