Georgia Heat Pump Rebates

What's available in Georgia

Georgia's main non-income-qualified heat pump incentive is Georgia Power's HEIP, which in 2026 pays 50% of cost up to $1,500 for converting an electric furnace to an air-source heat pump (gas-furnace replacements do not qualify; ground-source up to $300, ductless mini split up to $500). The income-qualified Georgia HEAR program, administered by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), paid up to $8,000 toward a heat pump for households under 150% AMI, but following DOE guidance issued May 29, 2026 GEFA stopped accepting fuel-switching projects on August 10, 2026 and stopped accepting all new HEAR applications at 1:00 p.m. ET on August 14, 2026; applications filed before then are still being reviewed subject to funding, and GEFA's Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) program remains open. Several EMCs run member-only rebates: Jackson EMC ($400 for an ENERGY STAR heat pump), Cobb EMC (up to $500 once every five years for HVAC replacement), Sawnee EMC ($100 per ton at 16.2 SEER2 with a load-management switch), and Walton EMC ($200 for fossil-fuel conversions in all-electric homes on acreage). Other EMCs (GreyStone, Snapping Shoals, Coweta-Fayette) advertise rebates that vary by year, so 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 $1,500 for converting an electric furnace to an air-source heat pump), and a federally-funded income-qualified program (Georgia HEAR, up to $8,000) that stopped accepting new applications on August 14, 2026 and is now only processing applications filed before that cutoff. 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. Important 2026 change: following DOE guidance issued May 29, 2026, Georgia must modify its HEAR implementation by August 31, 2026, and all fuel-switching scopes of work — a gas furnace replaced by a heat pump, for example — had to be submitted by 10:00 a.m. ET on August 10, 2026. Four days later, effective 1:00 p.m. ET on August 14, 2026, GEFA stopped accepting all new single-family and multifamily HEAR applications. Applications filed before the cutoff are being reviewed subject to available funding; no reopening date has been announced, and GEFA's separate Home Efficiency Rebates (HER) program remains open.

Georgia Power's 2026 HEIP rebate covers conversion from an electric furnace to an air-source heat pump at 50% of installed cost, up to $1,500 (ground-source conversions up to $300, ductless mini splits up to $500). The installer must attest that the heat pump replaced an electric furnace, so replacing a gas furnace does not qualify. 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 September 2026 the program is closed to new applications (cutoff was 1:00 p.m. ET on August 14, 2026); only applications already filed through a GEFA-trained contractor are still being processed. 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

3 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). Because she is replacing a gas furnace, she does not qualify for HEIP's air-source heat pump conversion rebate, which in 2026 requires that the heat pump replace an electric furnace (50% of cost up to $1,500). And because GEFA stopped accepting new HEAR applications on August 14, 2026, HEAR is no longer available to her either unless her contractor filed before that cutoff. Had she filed in time, her HEAR tier (under 80% AMI) would have covered 100% of project cost up to $8,000. 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 installed indoor/outdoor combination must be listed in the AHRI directory as an air source heat pump and must replace an electric furnace (the installer attests to this in the application); the 2026 preconditions document lists no SEER2/HSPF2 tiers for this measure. 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 $1,500 for electric-furnace-to-air-source heat pump conversion, up to $300 for ground-source, up to $500 for a ductless mini split, up to $800 for a heat pump water heater, etc. The Home Comfort Trio bundle (attic insulation + air sealing + duct sealing, up to $1,850 including a $400 bonus) 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.

If you can't afford a replacement in Georgia

Rebates lower the price, but they still assume you can pay the rest. If your heating system is unsafe or has failed and a new one is out of reach, these programs repair or replace equipment at low or no cost for income-qualified households. Heat Pump Pricing Index is an independent information site — we don't fund, discount, or install equipment — so these are the doors to knock on first:

• Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). Free energy and health-and-safety repairs — an unsafe furnace is exactly the kind of problem it fixes — for households at or near 200% of the poverty line. Apply through your local community action agency: how to apply (energy.gov).
• LIHEAP. Heating-bill help plus, in most states, a crisis component for broken or dangerous heating equipment. Same local agency; Georgia LIHEAP contacts.
• USDA Section 504 Home Repair. For homeowners outside cities: 1% loans up to $40,000, and grants up to $10,000 for homeowners 62 and older to remove health and safety hazards. Program page and state offices (rd.usda.gov).
• Your utility and 211. Most electric and gas utilities run an income-qualified assistance fund — call the number on your bill and ask. Dialing 211 reaches a local specialist who knows which agencies in Georgia currently have funds.

Safety first: if a technician has told you a heat exchanger is cracked, stop using the furnace and make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector before anything else.

FAQ