ATLANTA, Oct. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Thursday, Oct. 1, through Sunday, Oct. 4, has been designated as Energy-Efficient Product Sales Tax Holiday in Georgia.

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During this time, all Georgia consumers who purchase selected ENERGY STAR® -qualified or WaterSense® labeled products and other designated energy-efficient items will pay no state or local sales and use tax. The offer is good on purchases of $1,500 or less per product on items for personal or home use only.

Qualified appliances include dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, programmable thermostats, ceiling fans, windows and doors, compact fluorescent light bulbs and other eligible products. To find out which products qualify, visit https://etax.dor.ga.gov/salestax/holiday/2009/index.aspx.

Consumers who buy energy-efficient ENERGY STAR-qualified products will receive the immediate tax savings, but more importantly, they will begin saving additional money and energy each time they use their ENERGY STAR product. These products use up to 50 percent less energy than those without the ENERGY STAR label, meaning Georgia residents will save money and energy, while helping protect our environment.

This is the fifth consecutive year the Georgia General Assembly has specifically made ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances and products eligible for a sales tax exemption.

ENERGY STAR is the U.S. 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 strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy. These products use advanced technologies that result in 10 to 50 percent less energy use than non-qualified products.

The Georgia Environmental Protection Department estimates state residents can reduce their energy use and save up to 30 percent, or $600 annually, on their utility bills by looking to ENERGY STAR products.

Consumers are also encouraged to take the "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" pledge. Taking the pledge is as simple as changing a light bulb, setting a programmable thermostat, making sure your home is well insulated or other energy efficient lifestyle changes. Changing a standard light bulb to an ENERGY STAR-qualified CFL saves more than $30 over the life of the bulb.

Customers are invited to take the pledge online at www.georgiapower.com or look for the pledge card in their October bills.

Recycling just got easier!

Georgia Power has partnered with The Home Depot to offer recycling for compact fluorescent light bulbs at the retailer's stores in Georgia.

Georgia Power sponsors in-store bins at all 88 Home Depots in the state. This creates the state's most widespread recycling program for CFLs and brings relatively convenient recycling within reach of most households.

Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year-round. For more information on the Georgia sales-tax-free weekend or for money-saving energy efficiency tips visit 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 with rates well below the national average. Georgia Power serves 2.3 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties.

SOURCE Georgia Power Co.

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