Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Frequently Asked Questions

Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is a nationally recognized program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. Local contractors participating in Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program can help you cost-effectively improve your home's comfort and energy efficiency. These specially trained contractors evaluate your home using state-of-the-art equipment and recommend comprehensive improvements that will yield the best results.

Georgia Power has always helped educate its customers on ways to use electricity more efficiently. Georgia Power views Home Performance with ENERGY STAR's "whole house" approach as a good way to assist customers who live in older homes to find cost effective ways to make their homes more energy efficient. Using the program's initial home energy assessment (diagnostic testing and visual inspections), the technician can identify what improvements are needed for your home and prioritize the improvements that have the biggest benefit to the homeowner.

1. Review Georgia Power's "approved contractor" list.
2. Choose and contact contractor from "approved contractor" list (recognize cost and scope of work).
3. Have the assessment performed by contractor - including diagnostic "test in".
4. Submit assessment reimbursement request to Georgia Power for 50% (up to $200) of assessment cost.
5. Receive a list of recommended energy improvements from contractor.
6. If recommended improvements are on Georgia Power's rebate list, understand and make note of possible rebates.
7. Have recommended energy improvements made by contractor from Georgia Power's "approved contractor" list, but the contractor who performs the improvements does not have to be the same contractor who performed the inspection.
8. Allow contractor's diagnostic "test out" to be completed.
9. Complete required forms and submit rebate request to Georgia Power for reimbursement payment.

Yes, but not if you want to qualify for Georgia Power rebates. In order to qualify for Georgia Power's rebates, you must use a qualified contractor from Georgia Power's "approved contractor" list who have received special training to perform home assessments and home improvements as part of the Georgia Power Home Performance program. These contractors have been trained and have passed the Building Performance Institute's building analyst test. As a part of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program, once certain recommended improvements have been completed - such as increasing insulation levels - the contractor must confirm the work was performed properly and meets the required standard using diagnostic "test out" equipment. If for some reason there is a problem, contractors in Georgia Power's program have agreed that they will continue the work (at no additional cost) to make the proper corrections.

A typical home assessment can cost $400- $700. Each contractor sets their own pricing and Georgia Power has no responsibility over the contractor's price. Some factors that affect the assessment cost are the size of the home, the number of heating and cooling (HVAC) systems, and accessibility to assessment areas. During the initial contractor call it is highly recommended that you discuss the possible cost and provide the contractor with as much information regarding your home as you can to assist them in providing you with the most accurate cost estimate.

Georgia Power is a sponsor of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program, and works with these approved contractors because these contractors have made the commitment to have technicians complete the required training and screening to meet the Georgia Power's Home Performance program requirements. Georgia Power's Home Performance program is part of the national Home Performance program and is based on a whole house, all systems working together, approach. However, any agreement on improvements is between the customer and the contractor. Georgia Power takes no responsibility for the agreement between the customer and the contractor for the improvements and does not guarantee the contractor's work.

Once rebate paper work is submitted to Georgia Power (typically, within two to four weeks), a check is sent to the Georgia Power account holder. Rebates are paid in the form of checks only, there are no credits issued to the customer's Georgia Power bill at this time.

The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program is currently a pilot program offered only in the metro Atlanta area. In order for contractors to participate in the program, one of the requirements is that they are trained, tested and pass the Building Performance Institute's building analyst test. In the future, we expect we will have more trained and qualified contractors working in or near your area.

Each home is different. The required improvements and associated costs to make the improvements will vary. A typical home might require improvements costing between $7,000 and $12,000 to qualify for the maximum rebate of $1,900. This is meant as a point of reference but is not a guarantee of any sort. The actual total improvement cost could be more or less depending on your specific home and necessary energy improvements. Some homes may not qualify for the full $1,900 in rebates.

This approach gives customers more flexibility in their contractor choices. Some customers may prefer separating contractor roles and responsibilities with one company providing the home energy assessment and a second company actually performing the recommended home energy improvements. Other customers may prefer the ease of working with only one company that performs both the home assessment and all the recommended home energy improvements from start to finish.