Alas, the scenario is all-too-familiar: A family buys a new, energy-saving refrigerator. So far, so good. But then they put the old one in the basement or the garage. And then they PLUG IT IN!  Aieee. Total energy use goes up, not down.  And often, that second fridge is mostly empty. It's just used for extra drinks or parties or some such.

Now, PPL is following the lead of other utilities companies. Today, it's going to inaugurate an appliance buy-back program by picking up the old refrigerator of Mary Anne Smeltz, who lives in Dalmatia, north of Harrisburg.  PPL is offering $35 for any old -- but working -- refrigerators, freezers or room air-conditioners their customers have.

And they'll come pick the aged appliances up to boot. Customers can schedule a pick-up by calling 1-877-270-3522 or visiting www.pplelectric.com/recycle  The $35 comes as a rebate.  The electric company says it will recycle 95 percent of the materials in the old appliances.

In Smeltz's case, she realized the old fridge was costing her $150 a year to run, just to store a few drinks and frozen foods.

PECO customers, your turn is coming. Just wait a few months.

Yesterday, the company announced a few more details about a suite of energy efficiency programs that they say will save their customers $1 billion. One of the programs is, yep, $10 million in customer incentives to part with older, inefficient appliances. Not to mention $42 million in rebates for buying newer ones.

Other programs, all of which begin in March, 2010,  include $28 million in weatherization programs for low-income customers plus $112 million in rebates and energy efficiency programs for non-profit, educational, governmental and business customers. A $20 million program discounting compact fluorescent light bulbs at more than 800 PECO-area stores has already begun.  And that's not even a rebate. The clerk gives customers the cheaper rate at the register.

Both the PPL and PECO programs are a response to a state law that requires all state electric utilities to reduce energy use by one percent by May 31, 2011. The PECO programs are estimated to cost residential customers $1.50 a month on their bills, so "selling" the utility your old appliance is a great way to get that money back, as well as seeing a reduction in your bill without that old think sucking up so much energy. Plus, you get to feel great about helping the environment.