ATLANTA – Georgia consumers will be pleased to know that selected ENERGY STAR® qualified appliances and products will be exempt from state sales tax during the upcoming state sales tax-free appliance weekend.

Beginning Thursday, October 6, at 12:01 a.m. until midnight Sunday, October 9, selected ENERGY STAR appliances including dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats, ceiling fans and other eligible products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs (up to $1,500) can be purchased without paying the 4% state sales tax.

Consumers that buy energy efficient ENERGY STAR qualified products will receive an immediate tax savings, but most importantly, they will begin saving additional money and energy each time their ENERGY STAR product is used. This is the first time the Georgia General Assembly has specifically made ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and products eligible for a sales tax exemption.

ENERGY STAR is the government’s nationally recognized program committed to helping individuals save money and energy while benefiting the environment through superior energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR products meet the strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Energy. These products have superior design and system features, and use advanced technologies that result in using 10 to 50 percent less energy use than non-qualified products.

“Rising energy prices have become a major concern for consumers. One way consumers can save energy and money is by investing in energy efficient products and appliances,” said Doug Jones, Georgia Power’s senior vice president of customer service and sales. “As older appliances need replacing, consumers should consider purchasing products that have the ENERGY STAR label.

Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year round. For more information on how to save energy and money, please call Georgia Power – The Energy Expert® at 1-800-524-2421. Or visit the website at www.georgiapower.com. For additional information about ENERGY STAR visit www.energystar.gov.

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, serving customers in 57,000 of the state’s 59,000 square miles. Georgia Power’s rates are well below the national average, and its 2 million customers are in all but six of Georgia’s 159 counties.