Reward Offered For Ohio's Oldest Working Refrigerator

AKRON, Ohio, April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy's (NYSE: FE) Ohio utilities are joining forces with other utilities throughout the state to launch Ohio's Oldest Refrigerator Contest, which offers valuable prizes for Ohio's oldest working refrigerator.

To participate, FirstEnergy utility customers can call 1-877-545-4112, or visit www.energysaveOhio.com, to schedule a home pick up of their old running refrigerator for recycling between May 1 and July 31 — the contest period.  The program is limited to the removal of two units per household per calendar year.  Refrigerators or freezers to be recycled must be in working order and between 10 and 30 cubic feet, using inside measurements.

The customer recycling the oldest refrigerator in each utility company's service area (Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison) will win a $250 gift card and be eligible to win a $1,000 gift card if their refrigerator is the oldest collected in Ohio during the contest period.  The winner will be announced in August.

In addition to the contest, anyone who recycles a refrigerator or freezer through the program will earn a $50 incentive and can save up to $150 a year in energy costs.  While the contest runs from May through July, the recycling program and $50 incentive offer is available throughout the year.

Typically, the appliances recycled are outdated units that either sit unused or are used for extra storage in garages and basements.  However, the convenience of chilling an extra six-pack and some leftovers can come at a steep price.  Refrigerators manufactured before 1990 can use three times more electricity than new appliances.

Units picked up through the program are transported to an appliance recycling facility operated by JACO Environmental.  JACO safely removes hazardous materials from the old appliances, reclaiming 95 percent of the materials in the appliances for reuse in manufacturing new products.  Even the foam insulation is safely incinerated to generate electricity.

"Running an outdated refrigerator or freezer wastes resources and inflates monthly utility bills," said Michael Dunham, director of energy and environmental programs for JACO Environmental.  "Proper recycling is also good for the environment, keeping hazardous materials out of landfills."

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York.  Its generation subsidiaries control more than 20,000 megawatts of capacity from a diversified mix of scrubbed coal, non-emitting nuclear, natural gas, hydro, pumped-storage hydro and other renewables.  Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.  

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SOURCE FirstEnergy