Georgia
State Scorecard Rank
39
Georgia
6.5Scored out of 50Updated 12/2022
State Government
Score: 0.5 out of 4.5
State Government Summary List All
Georgia does not offer any state-funded consumer incentives for energy efficiency investments. It enables PACE financing, but it does not have any active PACE programs. The state government leads by example by requiring energy-efficient fleets and buildings and encouraging the use of energy savings performance contracts. Research and development focused on energy efficiency is conducted at two institutions.
Financial Incentives List All
Currently, there are no solely state-administered financial incentive programs. Further financial incentive information can be found in the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE Georgia). The state does enable Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing (PACE) and has one active program. For additional information on PACE, visit PACENation.
Last Reviewed: August 2022
Equity Metrics and Workforce DevelopmentList All
We were unable to determine if the state's energy plans or electrification strategies establish specific policies or equity-related metrics to ensure access for underserved customers or if they include specific measures to prioritize clean energy workforce development.
Last Reviewed: September 2020
Carbon Pricing PoliciesList All
The State of Georgia does not yet have carbon pricing policies in place.
At this time, the state does not have a statewide emissions reduction goal in place.
Last Reviewed: September 2022
Building Energy Disclosure List All
There is no disclosure policy in place.
Last Reviewed: July 2018
Public Building Requirements List All
In April 2008, Governor Sonny Perdue signed an executive order requiring state government agencies and departments to reduce energy use. This executive order created the Governor's Energy Challenge 2020 as part of "Conserve Georgia." State agencies and departments must reduce energy consumption 15% by 2020, using 2007 energy use as a baseline. Reductions in energy use must come from energy efficiency measures and can also come from renewable energy development. State agencies regularly track their own energy consumption at the account level and report that energy consumption annually to GEFA. No further goals have been put into place since then.
Also in 2008, Senate Bill 130 called for building commissioning for new state buildings and requires new state buildings to exceed ASHRAE 90.1.2004 energy efficiency standards by 30%. This act also requires state buildings over 10,000 square feet to be designed, constructed, and commissioned or modeled to achieve a 15 percent reduction in water use when compared to water use based on plumbing fixture selection in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Last Reviewed: August 2022
Fleets List All
No policy in place or proposed.
Note: For state efficient fleet initiatives, policies listed must make a specific, mandatory requirement for increasing state fleet efficiency. State alternative-fuel vehicle procurement requirements that give a voluntary option to count efficient vehicles are thus not included.
Last Reviewed: August 2022
Energy Savings Performance Contracting List All
Georgia has developed a state agency manual for performance contracting and has established a list of pre-qualified vendors as well as a full set of standardized contracting documents. Over the past six years, the State has implemented approximately $90 million worth of performance contracts in state government facilities. It is in the process of having more approved for FY21.
Last Reviewed: July 2020
Research & Development List All
Funded in part by the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA), the Southface Energy Institute conducts research and training on energy-efficient housing and communities. GEFA collaborates with the Institute on its weatherization training and technical assistance.
At the Georgia Institute of Technology, the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) focuses on engineering water and power infrastructures that prove to be more efficient than current systems and help reduce the risk of supply- or demand-driven system failures. The Institute’s current efficiency-based research is centered on its Sustainable Infrastructure for Energy and Water Systems (SINEWS) Project funded by the National Science Foundation. This project includes secondary teams from Arizona State University and the University of Georgia.
Last Reviewed: July 2018
Buildings
Score: 2 out of 12
Buildings Summary List All
The 2020 Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code Georgia 2020, based on the 2015 IECC with state specific amendments, went into effect January 1, 2020. Southface Institute, in partnership with Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), has developed comprehensive trainings and resources to help building professionals comply with the latest codes.
Residential Codes List All
The 2020 Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code, based on the 2015 IECC with state specific amendments, went into effect January 1, 2020.
Last Reviewed: December 2022
Commercial Code List All
The 2020 Georgia State Minimum Standard Energy Code, based on the 2015 IECC with state specific amendments, went into effect January 1, 2020.
Last Reviewed: December 2022
Compliance List All
- Gap Analysis/Strategic Compliance Plan: No strategic compliance plan has been completed in recent years. The Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) have, in partnership with the Home Builders Association of Georgia, developed a program for builders to rent duct blasters and blower doors for compliance, which was a result of a previously completed gap analysis.
- Baseline & Updated Compliance Studies: Georgia is one of eight states participating in the US DOE's Residential Energy Code Field Study. Through the project, DOE plans to establish a sufficient data set to represent statewide construction trends and detect significant changes in energy use from training, education and outreach activities. The first stage of the study is comprised of a baseline compliance study.
- Utility Involvement: Utilities have been involved in training for energy codes in the state. They also coordinate with the state during the update process.
- Stakeholder Advisory Group: NA
- Training/Outreach: Southface Institute, in partnership with Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA), has developed comprehensive trainings and resources to help building professionals comply with the latest codes.
Last Reviewed: December 2022
Important Links List All
CHP
CHP Summary List All
The state has limited policies to encourage CHP. No new CHP systems were installed in 2018.
Interconnection StandardsList All
There is currently no interconnection standard in place that applies to CHP.
For more information on interconnection standards, click here.
Last Updated: July 2018
Encouraging CHP as a ResourceList All
There are currently no state policies designed to acquire energy savings from CHP (like other efficiency resources) or energy generation from CHP (in terms of kWh production) that apply to all forms of CHP.
Last Updated: July 2018
Deployment IncentivesList All
There are currently no state policies that provide additional incentives for CHP deployment.
Last Updated: July 2018
Additional Supportive PoliciesList All
There are few additional supportive policies to encourage CHP but the state does offer a Biomass Sales and Use Tax Exemption that can benefit CHP system owners. To qualify for the exemption, the biomass material must be utilized in the production of energy, including the production of electricity, steam, or both electricity and steam.
Last Updated: July 2018
Utilities
Score: 2 out of 15
Utilities Summary List All
Georgia’s Integrated Resource Planning law, O.C.G.A. § 46-3A-2, approved in the early 1990s, requires the state’s regulated electric utilities to file integrated resource plans (IRPs) with the Georgia Public Service Commission (GPSC) every three years. The IRPs must take into account any present and projected reductions in the demand for energy that may result from measures to improve energy efficiency in the industrial, commercial, residential, and energy-producing sectors of the state. To encourage utilities to use demand-side resources, Georgia statute O.C.G.A. § 46-3A-9 allows utilities to recover costs and an additional sum for commission-approved demand-side management programs. Natural gas utilities are not required to file IRPs or offer energy efficiency programs.
Georgia Power, cooperative utilities, and Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) offer energy efficiency programs. The GPSC regulates Georgia Power, but not the other electric utilities. To date, levels of spending and associated energy efficiency program activity have been relatively low.
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
Last reviewed: May 2022
Customer Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Since the early 1990s, Georgia statute O.C.G.A. § 46-3A-2 has required the regulated electric utilities to file integrated resource plans with the Georgia Public Service Commission every three years. The IRPs must consider the impact of energy efficiency improvements on projected energy demand. The companies must file the IRPs in accordance with GPSC Rule 515-3-4, the commission’s IRP rule. Natural gas companies are not required to file IRPs or offer energy efficiency programs.
Regulated utility energy efficiency and demand-side management programs are funded through a demand-side management tariff that is applied to residential and commercial customer's bills. Georgia Power is the only regulated electric utility in the state. Georgia Power filed its 2022 IRP and DSM Certification in Docket Nos. 44160 and 44161. The utility has 11 certified energy efficiency programs – six residential and five commercial and one residential demand response program. Each customer class is responsible for the program and incentive costs for their respective program.
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) also works with partner utilities to offer audits and incentives for residential and business customers. Additionally, many of the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation’s cooperatives offer rebates for installation of certain energy-efficient appliances such as water heaters, heat pumps, programmable thermostats, and compact fluorescent light bulbs.
The most recent budgets for energy efficiency programs and electricity and natural gas savings can be found in the State Spending and Savings Tables.
Last Updated: June 2022
Energy Efficiency as a Resource List All
Every three years, regulated Georgia utilities must file integrated resource plans (IRPs) with the commission. The plans must detail the utilities' forecast requirements, taking into account present and projected energy demands and any demand reductions that are the result of improved energy efficiency measures in any and all sectors. In Georgia Power's 2010 IRP (Docket 31081), the commission adopted a policy recognizing energy efficiency as a priority resource. Georgia Power’s most recent IRP was approved in July 2019 (Docket Nos. 42310 and 42311).
Last Updated: May 2022
Energy Efficiency Resource Standards List All
There is currently no EERS in place.
For more information on Energy Efficiency Resource Standards, click here.
Last reviewed: May 2022
Utility Business Model List All
Georgia Code (O.C.G.A. § 46-3A-9) authorizes electric utilities to recover costs and an “additional sum” for approved programs. In the 2013 IRP, the Commission approved an additional sum of 8.5% of actual net benefits of electricity savings for achieving 50% or more of kWh projected savings. If the additional sum exceeds program costs, the portion of the total that exceeds program cost is limited to 4% of actual net benefits.
Last reviewed: May 2022
Evaluation, Measurement, & Verification List All
- Primary cost-effectiveness test(s) used: total resource cost test
- Secondary cost-effectiveness test(s) used: utility cost test, participant cost test, societal cost test, ratepayer impact measure test
Program evaluations are required. EM&V reports are required every two to three years as part of the Resolution of Outstanding Issues in Docket No. 31082 and the orders filed in Docket Nos. 36499/36498. Georgia has established formal rules and procedures for evaluation, which are stated in Rules 515-3-4-.09(3) (e) 4 and 5. Statewide evaluations and utility evaluations are conducted.
Georgia uses all of the five benefit-cost tests identified in the California Standard Practice Manual. According to the Database of State Efficiency Screening Practices (DSESP), Georgia relies on the Total Resource Cost Test (TRC) as its primary cost-effectiveness test and the utility cost test (UCT), participant cost test (PCT), societal cost test (SCT), and ratepayer impact measure (RIM) tests as its secondary cost-effectiveness tests. In the 2010 IRP order, the Commission stated that a ratio below 1.0 on the RIM test is not grounds for rejection of a program (IRP final order in Docket No. 31082 Appendix H and in Commission Rule 515-3-4-.04(3b)). While the RIM test should be considered in conjunction with other tests, such as the TRC test, Societal test, the Program Administrator test, and the Participant test, a ratio above 1.0 using the RIM test should not be deemed mandatory.
Georgia’s TRC also accounts for additional fuel and water resource savings to include costs of environmental externalities.
Further information on cost-effectiveness screening practices for Georgia is available in the Database of State Efficiency Screening Practices (DSESP), a resource of the National Efficiency Screening Project (NESP).
Last Updated: August 2019
Guidelines for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs List All
Requirements for State and Utility Support of Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
Although no minimum spending or saving requirements are in place for low-income programs, in proceedings for Georgia Power’s 2019 Integrated Resource Plan, GPC agreed to designate $400,000 toward low-income programs through a local service organization and to carveout $500,000 in the Home Energy Improvement Program in the annual budget for Multifamily low-income customers. Georgia Power launched a certified program designed to serve low-income customers with additional funding from a donation model. The Income-Qualified (Crowd-Funding) program, known as the Residential Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program ("HEAAP"), has a total budget of $4 million per year for 2020-2022. Also, an Income-Qualified Tariff Based Energy Efficiency Pilot, similar to a PAYS programs, now known as RISE was approved in the 2019 IRP with a budget of $7 million for the period of 2020-2022. This program is currently only avaialble for low-income customers in two Georgia service areas (Atlanta and Athens). The Commission approved the tariff and terms and conditions for this program.
Cost-Effectiveness Rules for Low-Income Energy Efficiency Programs
There is no stafe-wide explicit adjustments or exceptions to general cost-effectiveness rules are in place for certifiied low-income programs though they are exempted in practice. Certified income-qualified programs must pass the Total Resource Cost Test but, in keeping with industry practice, these programs are evaluated at a 100% Net-to-Gross ratio.
Coordination of Ratepayer-Funded Low-Income Programs with WAP Services
The Low-Income program is administered solely by GPC, though individual projects may receive funding from various sources.
Last reviewed: May 2022
Self Direct and Opt-Out Programs List All
Georgia does not allow for large customers to self-direct the funds they would have paid for energy efficiency, nor to opt-out entirely from participating in energy efficiency programs.
Last updated: July 2018
Data AccessList All
Guidelines for Third Party Access
Data can be accessed through an agreement with the commission and Georgia Power which is determined on a case by case basis.
Georgia Power Company offers the Automated Benchmarking Tool to enable building owners and property managers to retrieve energy consumption data for upload to the Energy Star Portfolio Manager. The tool will help customers aggregate building energy use data into a single virtual meter that can be used in Portfolio Manager to generate benchmark scores.
For buildings that have five or more tenants and for which no single account comprises over 50 percent of the building energy usage, energy usage data will be automatically aggregated. However, for buildings that have fewer than five tenants and for buildings where one account comprises over 50 percent of the building energy usage, customers need to download the consent form, get authorization from each of the tenants and submit the authorizations via the website. Consent forms must be reviewed and approved by Georgia Power prior to the release of aggregate building usage data.
Requirements for Provision of Energy Data
Georgia has no requirements for the provision of energy data.
Energy Use Data Availability
The state does not have an online standardized system through which access to individual or aggregated energy use data may be requested.
Last Updated: July 2018
Transportation
Score: 2 out of 13
Transportation Summary List All
The state has complete streets legislation in place and also provides incentives for high-efficiency vehicles.
Transportation System Efficiency List All
Transportation and Land Use Integration: No policy in place or proposed.
VMT Targets: No policy in place or proposed.
FAST Freight Plans and Goals: Georgia has a state freight plan that identifies a multimodal freight network, but it does not include freight energy or greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Transit Funding List All
The Transportation Investment Act, enacted in 2010, allows municipalities to pass a sales tax for the express purpose of financing transit development and expansion. Georgia has started to provide more funding for public transit. The governor included $100 million in bonds for transit this year. Georgia also this year passed HB 930, which creates a new 13 county public transit board and allows metro Atlanta counties to vote to increase transit funding. This has the potential to pave the way for a major transit expansion in metro Atlanta.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Incentives for High-Efficiency Vehicles List All
A tax credit is available to businesses that manufacture energy products for use in battery, biofuel, and electric vehicle enterprises, for up to five years.
Last Reviewed: November 2022
Equitable Access to TransportationList All
Georgia does not have any state programs in place to incentivize the creation of low-income housing near transit facilities, but it does consider the proximity of transit facilities when distributing federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits to qualifying property owners.
Last Reviewed: November 2022