Homeowners: Maximize Savings with Georgia Power’s Insulation Rebates

Maximizing Savings with Georgia Power’s $250* Utility Rebates for Home Insulation Upgrades

Georgia homeowners have a golden opportunity to enhance their home’s energy efficiency while enjoying significant financial benefits. Georgia Power offers a range of utility rebates for homeowners who undertake home insulation upgrades. This blog post provides a detailed guide on how to take full advantage of these rebates and improve your home’s energy efficiency.

Why Insulate?

Proper insulation is crucial for maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature and reducing energy consumption. By upgrading your home’s insulation, you can decrease heating and cooling costs, enhance indoor comfort, and reduce your carbon footprint.  We've previously written about what makes insulation the best ROI of any home improvement project, and that 90% of homes are under-insulated.

Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP)

Georgia Power’s **Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP)** is designed to help homeowners improve their home’s energy efficiency through various upgrades, including insulation. The program offers rebates that can significantly offset the cost of these improvements.

Steps to Access Georgia Power’s Rebates

1. Understand the Eligibility Criteria

Preconditions: Ensure your home meets the preconditions outlined by Georgia Power detailed here.   At the time of this writing, the requirements are as follows?

• "You are a residential Georgia Power customer
• Existing insulation in your attic is at or below R-19 
• Add insulation to meet an R value of 38 to comply with code as your attic structure allows
• Insulate your entire attic structure to ensure savings and increased comfort
• Provide zero balance or paid in full invoices for the insulation materials/equipment if you installed yourself or from the installing contractor"

Improvement Requirements: Georgia Power has a number of Improvement Requirements that homeowners should follow in order to qualify for the rebate 

• "Insulation must be installed across the entire attic structure and in all attic spaces in the home
• Addition of R-38 or greater and/ or improve to comply with current state code as structure allows
• A test-in (home energy assessment) and test-out required for installation of dense pack or wet spray cellulose or spray foam insulation (open or closed cell). Homes with combustion appliances must pass combustion safety testing. Dense pack or wet spray cellulose require a program contractor; non- air sealing types of insulation may be contractor or self-installed.
• Reflective materials such as radiant barriers do not qualify for the rebate."

2. Choosing Your Path: To Re-Insulate With or Without a Home Energy Audit

Specifically, rebates for spray foam upgrades officially require a Home Energy Audit (a Test-In and Test-Out of the building's performance) to qualify for the rebate.  Although an audit costs $300 to $600, homeowners can access up to $150 rebate from GA power for the audit expense.  With this expense, homeowners can access a higher total dollar amount of available rebates if they wish to invest in more than insulation.  As we noted earlier, insulation packs the biggest economic punch, but there's no reason to stop there apart from the additional costs and comparably lower returns on investment.

Option A: Without a Home Energy Audit

Direct Installation: Homeowners can qualify for rebates up to $250 without conducting a home energy audit by A) directly installing qualifying insulation upgrades, B) working with a participating Georgia Power program contractor, or C) working with a licensed professional.  Ensure the work meets Georgia Power’s HEIP standards and all required documentation is submitted...and that the Improvement Requirements mentioned above are met! 

Option B: With a Home Energy Audit

Certified Assessors: Engage a Georgia Power-certified Home Energy Improvement Program contractor to conduct a thorough energy assessment of your home. This assessment will identify areas where energy efficiency can be improved for insulation upgrades and in other areas.

3. Choose the Right Insulation Upgrades

Types of Insulation: Depending on the assessment (if conducted) or your own decision, you may need to upgrade attic insulation, wall insulation, or other areas. The type of insulation recommended will be based on the specific needs of your home.

4. Implement the Upgrades

Qualified Contractors: Hire a qualified contractor to perform the insulation upgrades. Ensure that the work meets the standards set by Georgia Power’s HEIP.

5. Apply for Rebates

Documentation: After completing the upgrades, submit all required documentation, including receipts and, if applicable, the energy assessment report, to Georgia Power for rebate processing.
 

Rebate Details

Rebate Amounts

Georgia Power offers rebates based on the type and scope of the insulation work done. Typical rebates can cover a significant portion of the upgrade costs, making it a financially attractive option for homeowners.

Timelines

Rebates are processed within a few weeks of submission, provided all documentation is complete and accurate.
 

Additional Benefits

Energy Savings

Upgraded insulation can lead to substantial energy savings, reducing your overall utility bills.

Enhanced Comfort

Improved insulation helps maintain consistent indoor temperatures, enhancing overall comfort.

Environmental Impact

Reducing energy consumption contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions, making your home more environmentally friendly.
 

Conclusion

Taking advantage of Georgia Power’s utility rebates for home insulation upgrades is a smart investment for any homeowner looking to reduce energy costs and improve home comfort. Whether you choose to conduct a home energy audit or opt to directly install qualifying upgrades, there is a clear path to financial savings and enhanced energy efficiency. By following the steps outlined above, you can make your home more energy-efficient while enjoying the financial benefits offered through Georgia Power’s Home Energy Improvement Program.

*For more information, visit the official Georgia Power Home Energy Improvement Program page here

Take the first step towards a more energy-efficient home today!