Frequently Asked Questions

Georgia’s Home Energy Rebates are two distinct programs that provide Georgia residents with home energy efficiency improvements and electric appliance updates at a reduced cost. 

• The Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) address home energy efficiency improvements. Amounts will range from $2,000 to $16,000 for individual households. The higher rebate levels are available for households that meet specific income qualifications. The rebate will depend on the amount of energy saved and the income eligibility of the household occupants. 
• The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) will provide point-of-sale rebates to households with income less than 150 percent of the area median income (AMI) in their county. Households could be eligible to receive up to $14,000. Rebates will apply to multiple appliances and measures, including, heat pumps; heat pump water heaters; heat pump clothes dryers; electric stoves, cooktops, ranges, or ovens; electric load service center (breaker box/electrical panel); electric wiring; and insulation, air sealing, and ventilation.

Currently, GEFA is running a limited pilot of the rebate programs to test operational processes and build out the network of approved contractors. Both rebate programs will be fully available to the public by March 31, 2025.

For the Home Efficiency Rebates (HER), rebates are available to individuals conducting energy efficiency upgrades of single-family homes and multifamily buildings. These rebates are available to households of any income. For households with a total annual income below 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), rebates can cover a higher percentage of the total project costs. 

The Home Electrification and Appliance (HEAR) program is only available to households with an annual income that is less than 150 percent of the area median income (AMI) of their county. 

A household may participate in both the HER and HEAR programs under the following conditions:

• The household meets all income requirements for both the HER and HEAR programs.
• Neither the HER nor HEAR may be combined with other federal grants or rebates for the same single upgrade.

Georgia residents will be able to use multiple programs, including the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and local utility rebates with Georgia’s Home Energy Rebates. However, these funds cannot be applied to the same single upgrade. 

Yes, tenants may participate in the programs with written permission from the building owner. Please refer to our eligibility page for details on income requirements for renters. 

Households are required to include a form of state-issued ID, i.e., driver’s license, passport, etc., and proof of residency and/or property owner authorization, i.e., utility bill, lease agreement.

To prove income eligibility, applications must include a form of income documentation including, but not limited to, tax documents W-2, pay stubs. 

Alternatively, a household can prove income eligibility using categorical eligibility. Categorical eligibility is the determination that a household meets income requirements by verifying household participation in another state or federal program that includes income qualification thresholds at least as stringent as the relevant Home Energy Rebates threshold. Please reference our eligibility page for a full listing of eligible programs. 

AMI varies by county in Georgia. Please reference the  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development database to find out the AMI for your household. 

GEFA will not pay rebates to Georgia residents directly during the limited pilot; the rebates are designed to reduce the overall cost of the upgrade and are paid directly to the contractor, retailer, or distributor. The savings provided by the rebates will be passed on to the homeowner/applicant. All rebate payments will come in the form of ACH transfer and/or a physical check.                                                                                                     

Georgia’s Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR) will be treated as a reduction in the purchase price or cost of property for eligible upgrades and projects. The consumer who receives the rebate will not be required to report the value of that rebate as income.

GEFA does not recommend that households wait to accomplish needed home energy upgrades or projects. Households looking for home energy upgrades assistance today cannot yet access these rebates but may be eligible for other federal programs, including the  Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), and other local utility programs. 

A homeowner can access rebates through Georgia's Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) if a project was initiated on or after August 16, 2022, and the project fulfills all U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requirements. As required by federal law, retroactive rebates are not available for the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates (HEAR).

During the limited pilot, all projects must be completed by a GEFA-approved contractor. Please contact us for more information.

The list of eligible contractors is available on the program website. Georgia residents interested in energy efficiency upgrades should select a contractor from the list and contact them directly. 

GEFA is actively working to build out a statewide contractor network and will provide periodic training throughout the program to ensure qualified contractors can participate in the program. Please sign up for Georgia's Home Energy Rebate Programs mailing list to receive alerts as more contractors become available. 

Contractors interested in participating in the program should fill out the Home Energy Rebates Contractor Interest Form to receive updates about contractor requirements, program training, and rebate application information.

There are many steps homeowners and renters can take now to prepare for the Georgia’s Home Energy Rebate Programs. If your home needs urgent energy efficiency upgrades, do not wait for the Home Energy Rebates to become available in your area. If you need financial assistance to accomplish these upgrades, existing programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program and tax credits may be available. 

Consumer protection is important to GEFA. GEFA is developing a consumer protection plan that includes mechanisms to prevent price inflation that will be posted on the program website. GEFA is committed to ensuring consumers are informed of best practices for identifying unfair business practices when engaging with contractors. To support this, GEFA will publish a resource in the form of a guide to inform consumers on what to look for in a contractor’s quote and how they can report issues with their contractors or other program representatives. Specific details will be shared at program launch.