Des Plaines sets end for generator rebate program

The Des Plaines City Council Monday night set a sunset date for the city's popular home generator rebate program.

Residents applying for rebates retroactively had until Dec. 2 to come forward for the current program.

Residents will have until Jan. 31 to apply for rebates but a year to install the generators from the time they receive a permit from the city.

This year, the city spent $72,500 on the program granting individual rebates of either $250 or $400 for portable or in-house generators.

The initial $22,500 funding allocation ran out on the first day the program went into effect on Sept. 19. The city council in October approved $50,000 in additional funding for this year.

Acting City Manager Jason Slowinski said 555 people have received rebates as of Dec. 2.

Another $50,000 has been budgeted for the 2012 calendar year and already is spoken for though not awarded. Officials will have to approve an additional $30,000 for next year to cover all the current 283 applicants, Slowinski said.

“We could do it later in 2012,” he added.

Officials expect the number of applicants will grow between now and the Jan. 31 cutoff.

Money for the generator program comes out of the city's general fund, which is expected to have an $18.8 million fund balance at the end of the 2012 fiscal year.

Residents are required to provide a valid receipt of purchase, the Universal Product Code and serial number of the generator installed.