Georgia Heat Pump Rebates

What's available in Georgia

Georgia's non-income-qualified heat pump incentive comes from Georgia Power's HEIP (up to $1,000 for an air-source heat pump conversion, 50% of cost). For income-eligible households (<150% AMI), the Georgia HEAR program — administered by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and active in 2026 — adds up to $8,000 for a heat pump install, making it the single largest rebate available in the state. Many Georgia EMCs (Jackson, Cobb, Walton, GreyStone, Snapping Shoals, Coweta-Fayette) also run member-only rebates that stack with HEIP/HEAR; verify directly with your EMC.

HEEHRA in Georgia

HEEHRA rebate: Point-of-sale rebate up to $8,000 for households at or below 80% of area median income. Funded by the IRA, administered by each state. Georgia is finalizing program rules.

How heat pump rebates work in Georgia

Georgia has a two-tier heat pump rebate picture in 2026: a non-income-qualified utility rebate from Georgia Power (Home Energy Improvement Program, up to $1,000 for air-source heat pump conversion), and a federally-funded income-qualified program (Georgia HEAR, up to $8,000) that's actively disbursing as of April 2026. Many Georgia EMCs (Electric Membership Corporations — the state's rural electric cooperatives) also run member-only rebates that stack with both. Georgia HEAR is one of the few state HEAR programs that successfully launched and is currently paying claims at scale; the program crossed $25 million disbursed by April 2026, making it one of the most active state HEAR implementations in the country.

Georgia Power's HEIP rebate covers air-source heat pump conversions at 50% of installed cost, up to $1,000 (ground-source heat pump conversions up to $300). The Home Comfort Bundle (insulation + duct sealing + air sealing) offers up to $1,250 for electric-heated homes but is a separate measure from heat pumps. Georgia Power residential electric service is required, and applications must be submitted within 60 days of paid invoice. The program is administered directly by Georgia Power; contractors don't need to be 'enrolled' in a typical program-ally sense, but the contractor must be Georgia-licensed and the equipment must meet HEIP efficiency thresholds.

Georgia HEAR is administered by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) under DOE rules. It covers 100% of project cost up to $8,000 for heat pump installs for households below 80% AMI, and 50% of project cost up to $8,000 for households at 80-150% AMI. The program is point-of-sale: GEFA-trained contractors process the rebate at install through GEFA's portal, and the homeowner sees the discount on the contractor's invoice. As of April 2026 the program is open statewide and disbursing actively. Many Georgia EMCs (Jackson, Cobb, Walton, GreyStone, Snapping Shoals, Coweta-Fayette) also run member-only heat pump rebates that stack with both HEIP and HEAR; verify directly with your EMC because EMC programs change annually.

Georgia rebate programs

2 utility-specific programs not shown here. Enter your ZIP in the calculator to filter to just your utility.

A worked example: replacing an Atlanta gas furnace + AC

Marcus owns a 2,100 sq ft suburban home in Marietta, served by Cobb EMC (not Georgia Power). His 21-year-old gas furnace and central AC are both end-of-life. He gets quotes for a 3.5-ton ducted air-source heat pump (16.2 SEER2 / 8.6 HSPF2) with a retained gas furnace as backup (Atlanta's design temperature is roughly 17°F, so dual-fuel makes engineering sense). Installed quotes range $14,200 to $17,800; he picks a Georgia-licensed contractor at $15,400.

Because Marcus is a Cobb EMC member (not a Georgia Power customer), the Georgia Power HEIP doesn't apply to him. Cobb EMC runs its own member rebate program — verify the current 2026 heat pump rebate amount directly with Cobb EMC. Member rebates at Georgia EMCs typically range $200-$800 for heat pump HVAC. For this scenario, assume Cobb EMC's 2026 heat pump rebate is approximately $400.

Marcus's household income (roughly $145,000 for a family of four) puts him at about 165% of Cobb County's AMI — above the 150% ceiling for Georgia HEAR's moderate-income tier. So HEAR doesn't apply. The federal §25C credit is gone for 2026 installs. His total stack is $400 from Cobb EMC against a $15,400 install — modest by Georgia standards but still real money.

Marcus's neighbor Aliyah lives in Atlanta proper, served by Georgia Power. She's installing the same equipment for the same price ($15,400). Her HEIP rebate at 50% of installed cost capped at $1,000 means she gets $1,000 back from Georgia Power. Her household income is around 75% of Atlanta's AMI, which puts her in HEAR's most generous tier (≤80% AMI, 100% of project cost up to $8,000). HEAR covers the remaining cost up to the $8,000 cap. Combined HEIP ($1,000) + HEAR ($8,000) = $9,000 in rebate stack, against a $15,400 install. Her net out-of-pocket: roughly $6,400. Same equipment, same install date, same metro — radically different rebate stacks because of utility identity and household income.

Choosing a contractor in Georgia

Georgia licenses HVAC contractors statewide through the Georgia State Construction Industry Licensing Board, which issues Conditioned Air Contractor licenses (Class I unrestricted, Class II restricted to ≤175,000 BTU). Verify your contractor's license at sos.ga.gov before signing. The license number must appear on contracts and permits. Georgia also requires EPA Section 608 certification for refrigerant work.

Georgia HEAR processing requires a GEFA-trained contractor. The contractor enrolls with GEFA, completes the program training, and gets credentials to file rebates through the energyrebates.georgia.gov portal. A non-trained contractor cannot file HEAR after the install. Ask before signing: 'Are you currently registered with GEFA's HEAR program, and will the rebate appear as a discount on my invoice?' GEFA maintains a public contractor lookup on the program portal.

Georgia Power HEIP doesn't require contractor enrollment in a program-ally sense, but the contractor must be Georgia-licensed and the equipment must meet HEIP efficiency thresholds (currently SEER2 16.0+ / HSPF2 8.1+ for ducted ASHP, with higher tiers triggering the full 50% rebate). Application is the homeowner's responsibility — submit within 60 days of paid invoice through Georgia Power's residential rebates portal, or have your contractor walk you through the submission. Georgia Power has been historically prompt on processing; rebate checks typically arrive within 6-8 weeks of submission.

Common pitfalls for Georgia homeowners

• Confusing Georgia Power with Georgia EMCs. Georgia has a strong cooperative-utility presence — roughly 40 Electric Membership Corporations serve much of the state outside Atlanta and Augusta proper. EMCs do not participate in Georgia Power HEIP; they run their own programs. A homeowner served by Cobb EMC, Jackson EMC, or any other EMC cannot claim HEIP. Identify your utility before assuming you're a Georgia Power customer because you're 'in Georgia.'
• Understanding HEIP per-measure caps. HEIP rebates are capped per measure: up to $1,000 for air-source heat pump conversion, up to $300 for ground-source, up to $250 for solar water heater, etc. The $1,250 Home Comfort Bundle cap covers insulation + duct sealing + air sealing and is a separate product from heat pump rebates. Check the HEIP preconditions document for the specific cap on each improvement you are planning.
• Assuming HEAR stacks with HEIP without verification. Federal IRA Section 50122 rules require that HEAR funds not duplicate other federal funds for the same equipment. Georgia Power HEIP is utility-funded, not federal, so in principle HEIP and HEAR can stack on the same install. GEFA handles the coordination at the rebate-processing level — confirm with the contractor and GEFA that both rebates are being applied to your specific install before assuming the full combined amount.
• Counting on §25C in 2026. The federal residential energy property credit (§25C) covered up to $2,000 for heat pumps in 2025 but was repealed effective December 31, 2025 by the OBBBA. Georgia installs completed in 2026 cannot claim it. Several Georgia HVAC contractor sites still cite the $2,000 figure as currently available — it isn't.
• Missing the HEIP 60-day submission window. Georgia Power HEIP applications must be submitted within 60 days of paid invoice. Late applications are denied regardless of equipment eligibility. If your contractor is filing on your behalf, get written confirmation of the submission within 30 days of install — don't wait until day 59 to verify.

Estimate your net cost

How to claim each rebate

1. Get pre-approved (where required). Some utility programs require approval before install. Check program details before signing a contract.
2. Use a participating contractor. Many programs require a licensed installer from an approved contractor list — especially HEEHRA, which routes through CEC-approved contractors who process the rebate at point of sale.
3. Save documentation. AHRI certificate, model numbers, and itemized invoice are required for most utility rebates.
4. Submit utility rebate within 60–90 days of install. Some programs are first-come first-served and close mid-year — funding can run out before the calendar year does.

FAQ