For a Limited Time, Incentive Increased to $70 for Xcel Energy's Refrigerator Recycling Program

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting Sept. 1, 2011, Xcel Energy residential electric customers in Minnesota with old, inefficient secondary refrigerators can receive $70 to participate in the existing Refrigerator Recycling Program—an increase of $35 from the usual incentive. The new offer runs through Nov. 30, 2011.

The program, administered by Minnesota-based Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. (ARCA), enables customers to have their spare, working refrigerators picked up free of charge and properly recycled. The recycling incentive is automatically mailed within three to four weeks after pickup.  Customers that participate in the program can see up to $100 in savings on their annual energy bills making the program both convenient and rewarding.

"We are extremely pleased to double the incentive for the program this fall," said Christmas Ramirez, Xcel Energy program manager.  "We want to make it easy for our customers to help the environment and save money, and we hope the added incentive will be beneficial."

For more information about Xcel Energy's Refrigerator Recycling Program, please visit ResponsibleByNature.com/Fridge or call (800) 599-5795. The program is scheduled to run through Dec. 31.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company that provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9 million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies in eight Western and Midwestern states. Company headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information is available at xcelenergy.com.

About ARCA

ARCA (www.ARCAInc.com), a publicly traded company (Nasdaq: ARCI) is one of the nation's largest recyclers of major household appliances for the energy conservation programs of electric utilities, currently provides services for more than 250 utility programs in the U.S. and Canada. Toxic chemicals and environmentally harmful materials such as ozone-depleting refrigerants, PCBs, mercury and oil are carefully recovered in the decommissioning process for destruction or disposal, preventing them from contaminating soil, air and water resources. The company is also the exclusive North American distributor for UNTHA Recycling Technology (URT), a materials recovery system for household refrigeration appliances.

SOURCE Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.