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Des Plaines generator rebate program a hit, but money's gone

The lines stretched out the door of Des Plaines City Hall Monday morning as more than 300 residents applied for the city's new generator rebate program.

City officials said the $22,500 in funding allocated for the program ran out so quickly on the first day it went into effect.

Some residents were in line from the night before since applications were being accepted on a first-come, first-served basis starting 8:30 a.m., officials said.

Out of the 312 residents who applied, 81 got rebates of either $250 or $400 for portable or in-house generators. That includes 54 residents who are considering purchasing new generators as well as 27 homeowners who already bought one as of June 22, Des Plaines Acting City Manager Jason Slowinski said.

The city council allocated $15,000 for residents proactively buying generators, and $7,500 for retroactive applicants.

June 22 was recommended as the cut off date for the retroactive part of the program to be fair to residents who may have purchased generators since the first severe rainstorm of the season that resulted in power outages lasting several days.

A typical portable home generator powered by gasoline, ranging in capacity from 1,800 watts to 8,000 watts, could cost roughly $400 to $1,000. Automatic, standby generators that run on natural gas and kick in during a power outage to power an entire house can cost between $3,000 and $10,000.

At Monday night's city council meeting, a few residents asked when more money would be allocated for the program. One resident said the program's retroactive cut off date was unfair because she bought her generator in April.

Slowinski said considering the demand for rebates the program will be brought up for discussion at the October city council meeting to determine whether more money should be allocated this year, as well as in next year's budget.

In the meantime, the city will maintain a list of names of residents who already have applied and continue to apply for the program, he added.

Several aldermen expressed support for increasing the program's funding.

“I think it's another positive thing that we want to give back to the city,” 4th Ward Alderman Dick Sayad said.

“We'll be looking at it very seriously in the upcoming budget cycle,” 2nd Ward Alderman John Robinson said.

Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman suggested the city reconsider having a lottery system so that residents who cannot physically wait in line may have an equal chance of getting a rebate.

Residents applying for rebates retroactively have until Dec. 2 to come forward for the current program. There is no deadline for those applying for new generator purchases. Residents must provide a valid receipt of purchase to be eligible for the program.

The city council will begin 2012 budget talks in October.