Minnesota's plan to give out rebates for energy-efficient appliances got off to rocky start with a jammed phone line and crashed Web site.
The state began its rebate program on Monday. It's funded with more than $5 million in federal stimulus funds, enough for about 25,000 state households to get a rebate.
Rebates of up to $200 can go toward refrigerators, freezers, dishwashers or clothes washers that meet federal Energy Start guidelines.
A spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Commerce, which is administrating the program, says the Web site was restored before noon Monday. Getting through on the phone was difficult through the afternoon.
She says it's hard to tell how long the rebate money will last, so Minnesotans should keep trying to get through. The Web is taking reservations 24/7.
