Paying for a home EV charger in Cumming: the 2026 rebate rules and their permit conditions
Incentives for home chargers in Forsyth County depend on which utility serves you and when the charger goes in. The City of Cumming's building permit application lists both Georgia Power and Sawnee EMC as utility choices, and the programs differ. Georgia Power offers a cash rebate on Level 2 chargers in 2026. Sawnee EMC offers an EV-specific rate rather than a rebate in the materials reviewed here. The federal tax credit for home chargers has ended for new installations. Each program also expects the work to follow local permit rules, which is where the City and County come in.
Georgia Power's 2026 Residential EV Charger Rebate
Georgia Power's 2026 terms list a Residential EVSE Charger Rebate of $150 per unit for the period January 1 through December 31, 2026, while funds last. The charger must be a Level 2, 208/240-volt unit. Residential customers can receive a maximum of two charger rebates per account. Installation must be completed on or before December 31, 2026, subject to funding availability, and chargers bought on the Georgia Power Marketplace that received the $150 instant rebate are not eligible for the mail-in rebate.
The terms put permit responsibility on the customer: the customer must comply with all applicable city, county, state, property owner and homeowners association rules and obtain and maintain all necessary permits. They also note that Level 2 installation may require an inspection and permit from the applicable city or county and encourage customers to consult a qualified electrician. Georgia Power says it does not warrant the work of any electrician or contractor, so the inspection is your check on the installation.
The terms also mention a separate $100 rebate for builders who install chargers in new homes, with restrictions; that one goes to builders, not owners.
Sawnee EMC members: savings come from the rate
Sawnee's Schedule PEV-11, effective January 2, 2026, bills EV charging on its own meter at $0.0445 per kWh off-peak and $0.280 per kWh on-peak, with a monthly base charge of $15.00 for a second meter or $34.00 for a stand-alone meter. For a Level 2 charger, on-peak is weekdays from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Charging outside those hours gets the low price. The EV charging cost calculator turns those numbers into a monthly estimate.
Because the rate needs a separate meter near the existing one, the installation plan is a little different from a simple charger circuit. Sawnee's EV Rate Options page is the place to confirm the current sign-up steps.
Want a licensed electrician to look at the job?
Request quotesThe federal credit has ended for new installs
The IRS describes the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit for individuals as 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,000 per charging port, for property at a principal residence in an eligible low-income or non-urban census tract. The IRS page says the credit applies to eligible property placed in service from January 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026. A charger placed in service after June 30, 2026 does not qualify. If yours went in before that date, the IRS page explains how to check the census tract.
Whatever incentive applies, keep the paperwork: the charger invoice, the installation invoice, the permit number and the final inspection. Our EV charger installation guide covers the permit side, and the panel upgrade guide covers capacity. The form on this page lets independent local electricians contact you.