Top Tier Georgia Battery Sales Reference

Internal Sales Team Resource — Q2 2026 Edition

Quick Orientation

This guide covers the Georgia Power market — Top Tier's primary territory in Georgia.

Top Tier sells batteries and service plans to customers who already have solar. This guide assumes every customer in your conversation already has an existing solar system. If a prospect doesn't have solar, they're not our customer — refer them out and move on.

The pitch in Georgia centers on three things, since most customers are on the unfavorable RNR-Instantaneous Netting program and are watching their solar value bleed away to the utility:

1. Stopping the value leak in their existing solar — most customers are exporting at $0.072/kWh and importing at $0.14-$0.30/kWh
2. Full system rescue + new 10-year workmanship warranty — orphaned customers have no service path or recourse
3. Future-proofing against documented rate increases — Georgia Power raised rates 30% in 18 months 2023-2024

Reps must understand each customer's specific rate plan and orphaned status to know which pitch angle to lead with.

Default Configuration: SELF-CONSUMPTION ONLY

Georgia is a self-consumption-only battery market by default. Georgia customers benefit most from a self-consumption configuration that captures the value Georgia Power's billing structure is taking from their solar. The pitch is bill savings, system rescue, and rate hedging — not backup power.

Pricing reflects this: Georgia's standard quote is $17,000 cash / $22,068 financed (Service Finance, 7.95%, 15 yr) for the self-consumption-only configuration, with a monthly payment of approximately $210. Backup-capable configurations are available for customers who explicitly want backup power, but the additional hardware cost reduces the financial return on the investment.

How To Open: Lead With Inspection + Takeover

The customer booked the appointment because they're frustrated about their utility bill AND their installer is unreachable. Don't open with savings math. Don't open with charts. Don't open with the technical pitch. Open with:

1. The free system inspection. "I'm here to inspect your existing solar system at no cost. If it's running well, we'll confirm that. If anything's wrong, we'll surface it. Either way, you walk away with a clearer picture of what you own."
2. System takeover. "When your inverter fails — and inverters do fail, usually between year 8 and year 20 — you need someone to handle the warranty claim and the replacement. Top Tier becomes your single point of contact for the next 10 years on the entire system, not just on anything new we install."
3. Then bridge to the bill. "You're still seeing a Georgia Power bill after going solar. Let me walk you through why, given how Georgia Power's RNR-Instantaneous billing works, and what changes when we add storage."

The battery is the upsell that makes the deal economic for Top Tier; takeover/inspection is the lead the customer agreed to. Reps get paid on battery sales. Don't lose the open by leading with the close.

Standing Rules (Do NOT Violate)

• ❌ NEVER coach reps to disqualify based on home tenure. If a customer plans to sell in 3 years, the right move is the resale story (system raises home value; closing equity pays off loan; warranties carry over per their actual transfer rules) — not "walk away."
• ❌ NEVER claim "all warranties transfer." Workmanship transfers WITH WRITTEN CONSENT. Manufacturer warranties transfer per their own terms. The 5-year Align Solar Protection service contract is NON-TRANSFERABLE. (See Objection Handling section for the verbatim corrected script.)
• ❌ NEVER fabricate inspection findings. The inspection is mostly about education + diagnosing the bill problem + future-failure prevention. Real findings at time of sale are rare. Document what you actually see; flag what you can't determine.
• ❌ NEVER quote the 0.85 bill-reduction factor as a guarantee. It's a working assumption built into the calculator for the Optimal-rate-plan (Overnight Advantage) switch path. Some customers won't switch rate plans or will keep different consumption patterns.

The Utility at a Glance

Note on EMC customers: This guide is specifically for Georgia Power territory customers. EMC customers (Cobb EMC, Jackson EMC, etc.) have their own programs and rules, and the math differs significantly. Don't apply this guide to EMC customers without verification.

The Pitch Framework

The three Georgia customer archetypes

Reps should identify which archetype they're talking to within the first 5 minutes of conversation. The pitch differs significantly for each.

Archetype 1: The High-Bill Orphan (Most Common)

• Has 8 kW or larger solar designed for 100% offset
• Originally installed 2021-2024 — placed on RNR-Instantaneous Netting from day one
• Original installer defunct or unresponsive
• Average bill running $180+/month with winter spikes to $300-400+
• Has access to monitoring app or could (with help)

Strongest fit. Lead with the bill leak story and system rescue.

Archetype 2: The Grandfathered Monthly Netting Customer (Less Common, Trickier)

• Installed solar before July 26, 2021
• On RNR-Monthly Netting (5,000-customer cap closed in 2021)
• Bill is genuinely near zero when system works
• Battery savings are smaller because they already have favorable solar economics

More difficult sale. Focus on system rescue and future hedging — don't claim dramatic bill reduction.

Archetype 3: The Energy Offset Only Customer (Rare but Valuable)

• Has solar but no export credit at all on their bill
• Often doesn't know they're on this worst-tier program
• Battery savings are massive because all stored energy displaces retail-rate imports

Strong fit once identified. Pull their bill carefully — if no credit lines for exports, they're here.

The opening pitch

"You bought an 8 kW solar system designed to produce 100% of your annual usage. It does. So why are you still paying Georgia Power $400+/month in December and January?

Because the sun goes down at 4:30 PM in winter, and from that moment until the next morning, your home runs entirely on grid power. Your AC, heat pump, hot water heater, lights, cooking — all of it pulls from Georgia Power at retail rates. Your solar produces during the day when you're not using much, exports to the grid at $0.072/kWh, and you buy the same energy back in the evening at up to $0.298/kWh.

Your solar system isn't broken. Georgia Power's billing structure is designed to capture most of its value. Top Tier reverses that. We solve all of this with a battery that powers your home in the evening, a rate plan switch that unlocks 2¢/kWh overnight power, full system rescue with a brand-new 10-year workmanship warranty, and rate hedging against documented Georgia Power increases."

Why You Still Have a Bill — Cohort Bridge (edg_net_billing)

Use AFTER you've opened with takeover/inspection (see "How To Open" above). This is the cohort-aware bill anatomy explainer that bridges the customer from "why did I book this appointment about my bill" to "here's how the bill math works once we install the battery." Georgia Power's cohort = edg_net_billing.

Verbatim from the proposal copy (lib/why-bill-own-rent.ts, edg_net_billing template) — reps see the exact same language the customer sees on the proposal:

You went solar and still see a bill. Here's why.

Georgia Power doesn't pay you the same rate for the energy you export as the rate you pay when you import. They credit your exports at an export rate (their "EDG" or net-billing rate), but you buy electricity back at the full retail rate. The spread between the two is where your residual bill comes from. Every kWh your solar produces during the day that you don't use immediately gets credited at the lower export rate. Every kWh you import after sunset costs you retail. A battery stores your daytime production for nighttime use — closing the spread by self-consuming what you'd otherwise export.

Georgia Power specifics for the rep

The cohort copy above is canonical and applies to every edg_net_billing market. For Georgia Power, anchor it with the actual published rates so the customer can verify against their own bill:

• Georgia Power export rate (RNR-Instantaneous): ~$0.072/kWh — far below retail. No 1:1 rollover. Every exported kWh is credited at this rate, not at the rate the customer pays back.
• Georgia Power retail import rates: ~$0.14/kWh standard, up to ~$0.298/kWh on the Smart Usage on-peak windows. A typical customer sits in the $0.14-0.30/kWh band depending on rate plan + time-of-use.
• The spread the battery captures: $0.068 to $0.226 per kWh of self-consumed energy that would otherwise have exported at $0.072. Multiply by the customer's daily nighttime consumption to see the daily $/yr value.

How to use it in conversation

After the takeover/inspection lead has landed, transition with: "Now let me show you why you still see a Georgia Power bill even though your solar is doing what it should — and what changes when we add storage." Then walk through the cohort copy above using the customer's own bill as the proof point. The cohort framing matches what they'll see on the proposal PDF, so there's no drift between rep verbal and the document.

What NOT to say:

• ❌ "Your solar is broken." (It's not — Georgia Power's billing structure is the issue.)
• ❌ "You should switch utilities." (Georgia Power is regulated monopoly territory; there's no alternative.)
• ❌ "Net metering is gone." (Imprecise — Georgia Power has RNR-Instantaneous, which IS net billing, not retail net metering. Use the actual rate names.)

Hidden Costs Avoided: The $11K System Takeover Bundle

Pillar 3 of the pitch (after Bridge and Takeover/Inspection lead). When Top Tier takes over the system, you bundle in services the customer would otherwise pay out of pocket over the 25-year horizon. These are estimates, not firm line-item quotes — but they total over $11K of value the customer doesn't see on the proposal's headline savings number.

Verbatim from the proposal copy (components/multistate/sections/HiddenCostsAvoided.tsx) — reps see the exact same 5-tile bundle the customer sees:

How to use it in conversation

The pitch: "On top of the bill math we walked through, you're picking up over $11K of bundled services that aren't sold separately. We don't quote them as line items because they're built into the takeover. But if your inverter fails in year 12, the manufacturer warranty handling alone is worth a few hundred dollars. The replacement coordination saves you another $3-5K. The 5-year Align contract on your existing system is $1,500 you'd otherwise pay if you went looking for it. It adds up."

What NOT to say

• ❌ Don't promise the line items as standalone products. Top Tier does NOT sell Align Solar Protection or service call coverage as standalone purchases. The values above are estimated 25-yr cost avoidance, not a price sheet a customer could shop. Saying "you could pay $X for Align separately" creates an expectation that doesn't match reality.
• ❌ Don't pitch the headline as a guarantee. "Over $11K" is the estimated typical bundle value. Headline rounds DOWN from $11,800 specifically to read as an estimate, not a firm quote.
• ❌ Don't reduce the customer's existing 10-yr workmanship value to zero if they had one from an existing installer — note that workmanship transferred under the original installer is typically unenforceable when the installer is out of business (which is why Top Tier's 10-yr coverage is the meaningful protection).
• ❌ Don't confuse Align (which is non-transferable) with the manufacturer warranty (which is) in the resale story. See Objection Handling for the verbatim per-warranty rule.

Relationship to the "Quantifying the Value" $4K-$7.5K table below

The existing "Quantifying the Value" table (in the System Rescue Value section below) shows a $4K-$7.5K range for a narrower set of items focused on the workmanship + warranty-handling subset. The $11K 5-tile bundle is the broader takeover quantification that matches the on-screen proposal + customer PDF. Use the $11K 5-tile bundle as the canonical talk-track. The narrower table remains as historical reference and as a sanity check on the lower bound.

What You Own vs What You Rent — Values Reframe

Pillar 4 of the pitch. Georgia Power's cohort = edg_net_billing, which routes to the DOLLAR-COMPARISON template (rent compounds materially at the RNR-Instantaneous export/import spread). The 25-year horizon isn't about which line is lower on a chart — it's about whether the customer walks out with an asset.

Verbatim from the proposal copy (components/multistate/sections/OwnVsRent.tsx, DOLLAR-COMPARISON branch) — reps see the same framing the customer sees:

Over 25 years: are you renting power or owning it?

The 25-year horizon isn't about which line is lower on the chart — it's about whether you walk out with an asset.

Two columns to walk through:

What You Rent (red column)

• 25-yr cumulative utility payments at Georgia Power's moderate-scenario rate of climb
• Typical: $60K-$127K depending on bill size (see the existing 25-Year Total Cost Analysis section for the per-archetype math)
• Money paid to Georgia Power, escalating year after year. You own nothing at the end. If rates climb faster than the moderate scenario, this number grows.

What You Own (green column)

• Total loan payments over 15 years: ~$37.8K ($210/mo × 12 × 15) + the system itself
• Loan paid off at year 15. Years 16-25 you own the system outright with no payment.
• Incremental home value: $3K-$10K. Lawrence Berkeley Lab storage-premium research suggests battery adds this on top of solar's premium. The customer's solar likely added ~$15K-$20K at original install — battery builds on that. Varies by market.

How to use it in conversation

The strongest framing for high-bill GA customers (Archetype 1: High-Bill Orphan, $180+/mo): the rent column is $80K-$127K cumulative; the own column is $37.8K loan total + paid-off-system + $3-10K home value. The dollar gap is stark.

For lower-bill GA customers (Archetype 2: Grandfathered Monthly Netting): the rent column is smaller today because they have favorable solar economics. The dollar comparison still works because Georgia Power's documented rate trajectory (30% in 18 months 2023-2024, then continuing climb after the 2028 freeze) makes the rent number compound. The reframe holds — but layer it WITH the system rescue + future-hedge story rather than leading with it.

For Archetype 3 (Energy Offset Only): the rent column is the largest because they have no export credit at all. The dollar comparison is overwhelming in their favor.

What NOT to say

• ❌ Don't oversell the home-value range. $3K-$10K is the incremental battery premium per Berkeley Lab — NOT the total solar + battery premium. The customer's solar already captured ~$15K-$20K at original install; battery builds on that.
• ❌ Don't quote a fixed dollar saving instead of the cohort-routed framing. "You save $90K over 25 years" lands worse than "the asset path costs $37.8K + system; the rent path costs $80K+ and you own nothing." The reframe is the point.
• ❌ Don't introduce uncertainty about the 0.85 factor here. The 25-yr cumulative math in this section uses the existing bill-math assumptions documented elsewhere in this guide; don't re-litigate them.

Georgia Power — The Net Billing Problem

Service Territory

Georgia Power serves approximately 2.4 million customers across most of Georgia outside EMC territories. As an investor-owned utility regulated by the Georgia Public Service Commission, Georgia Power's rates and programs are determined through the PSC rate case process every three years.

Net Metering: The RNR Program History

Understanding when each customer interconnected determines which version of the program they're on, and that drives everything about the pitch.

Before 2019: Georgia had no formal residential net metering program. Georgia Power used "instantaneous netting" by default, crediting excess solar at avoided cost (~$0.027/kWh). Residential solar economics were weak.

2019: As part of the 2019 Rate Case, Georgia PSC approved a small Monthly Netting pilot program — capped at 5,000 customers statewide and giving participants 1:1 retail-rate credits on a monthly basis.

July 26, 2021: The 5,000-customer cap was hit. From that day forward, all new solar customers were placed on RNR-Instantaneous Netting instead.

December 2022: Georgia PSC's 2022 Rate Case decision formally ended any expansion. Customers on Monthly Netting were grandfathered through 2038. Everyone else permanently routes to RNR-Instantaneous.

July 2025: In the 2025 IRP decision, Georgia PSC deferred the RNR net metering program to the 2028 IRP/rate case for reconsideration.

Practical impact: Customers who installed solar before July 26, 2021 may be on the favorable Monthly Netting program. Customers who installed after July 26, 2021 are on RNR-Instantaneous Netting, which is what creates the bill problem your battery solves.

How RNR-Instantaneous Actually Works

• Bidirectional meter measures imports and exports separately
• Imports billed at retail rate (~$0.14/kWh average) plus demand charges and fees
• Exports credited at Solar Avoided Cost Rate ($0.0322/kWh in 2026) plus a $0.04/kWh PSC adder = $0.072/kWh total export credit
• No annual true-up — credits roll month to month but rarely accumulate to anything meaningful
• Customer must enroll in the program (not automatic) and pay a $100 interconnection fee at install
• Systems capped at 10 kW AC for residential

The takeaway: every kWh exported earns 7 cents. Every kWh imported costs 10-30 cents. The spread is what's bleeding the customer dry.

Battery Rebate — Future Upside

Current state: No battery rebate available today.

Future: The Georgia Power Solar Plus Storage Pilot was approved by Georgia PSC in July 2025 as part of the 2025 IRP stipulation. Status as of early 2026: approved but not yet enrolling. Launch anticipated in 2026 but no firm date confirmed. See dedicated VPP section below for full details.

Pitch Approach for Georgia Power Customers

The pitch structure depends entirely on which RNR program the customer is on. Identify this from their bill before walking into the financial story.

For RNR-Instantaneous customers (post-July 2021 installs): Lead with the bill leak. Their solar produces what they use on an annual basis, but the import/export spread is taking 50-80% of its value. The battery captures that value back. Use winter pain ($400 December bills) as the emotional anchor.

For RNR-Monthly Netting customers (grandfathered, pre-July 2021): Lead with system rescue and future hedging. Their bill is already low when their system works, so don't oversell the bill reduction. Focus on the orphaned customer problem (no warranty path) and the documented rate increase trajectory.

For Energy Offset Only customers: Lead with discovery. Many customers don't know they're on this worst-tier program. Once they understand they're getting zero credit for exports, the battery pitch is almost automatic — every kWh stored displaces retail-rate imports.

How To Identify The Rate Plan From a Bill (Critical Rep Skill)

The rate rider field alone can be misleading. Both programs sometimes display similar terminology. The reliable way to identify which program a customer is on is to look at how solar generation is calculated on page 2 of their bill.

RNR-Monthly Netting (Grandfathered, Pre-July 2021):

Look for these patterns on page 2:

• Solar production deducted from total kWh used in the meter reading section BEFORE billing calculations
• Bill calculation pattern: (Total Usage – Total Solar Production) × retail rate
• Excess generation beyond monthly usage credited at avoided cost only as a separate line
• May rollover any excess as credits on next month's bill
• The customer's bill will show a much lower net usage number than what they actually consumed

This program is active through December 31, 2038 for those already enrolled. Cannot be added to.

RNR-Instantaneous Netting (Post-July 2021):

Look for these patterns on page 2:

• Separate line items showing:
  • "Renewables Generation Credit" at $0.032188/kWh (Solar Avoided Energy Cost)
  • "Renewables Generation Adder" at $0.040000/kWh
  • Combined total = $0.072/kWh on exports
• Customer pays full retail on all imports — solar production does NOT offset usage in the calculation
• Rate rider may show "RNR" or "RNR-11" or "RNR Bi-Directional"

The "Bi-Directional" label refers to the bidirectional meter, not the netting program. Don't be fooled — verify by looking at the calculation method.

Energy Offset Only:

• No credit lines for exports
• Customer's solar offsets on-site usage but earns $0 for excess
• Rare but exists; check if customer thinks they have a "solar program" but you see no credits on their bill

Battery Optimization: Rate Plans and Daily Operating Cycle

The Rate Plan Switch: Overnight Advantage

The second-largest value lever after system rescue.

Critical clarification: Georgia Power replaced the old PEV rate with Overnight Advantage. The new plan has NO EV requirement. Georgia Power's marketing language explicitly includes home battery owners as eligible customers.

No demand charges on Overnight Advantage — this alone saves $50-90/month for typical Smart Usage customers in summer and winter heating peak months.

The Daily Operating Cycle

Battery configured for self-consumption only, never exports to grid.

Battery never exports. Configuration must be set to "Solar Only" exports. Battery energy stays behind the meter at all times. Powering the home avoids $0.102-$0.298/kWh; exporting earns only $0.072. Self-consumption always wins.

The Other Rate Plans Customers Might Be On

Most customers who are upset about high bills are on Smart Usage with surprise demand charges. When you switch them to Overnight Advantage, the demand charges disappear entirely, which alone saves $50-90/month in summer.

Key Talking Points for Reps

1. "The rate plan switch is required to capture full value." Don't bury this. The battery alone won't deliver the projected savings without the Overnight Advantage rate plan.
2. "Battery never exports." Critical configuration detail. Self-consumption only. Battery energy stays behind the meter.
3. "Overnight Advantage has no EV requirement." Common customer confusion since it replaced the PEV rate. Anyone with a home battery qualifies.
4. "Smart Usage demand charges disappear on Overnight Advantage." This alone saves customers $50-90/month in summer peak months.

Georgia Power Rate History and Future Outlook

This section gives reps documented rate history and projections. Reps must distinguish between what has happened (verifiable) and what is projected (uncertain). Use documented history when telling the rate trajectory story.

Historical Rate Increases (2022-2025)

Georgia Power has raised rates dramatically in recent years. These are documented and verifiable through PSC filings:

Key statistics to know:

• Six rate increases in three years (2022-2025)
• Average residential bill went from ~$128 (2022) to ~$171 (2025)
• Vogtle alone will be in customer bills through ~2045 ($200-300/year continued impact)
• Southern Company (parent company) earned $4.4 billion profit in 2024, +$400M over 2023
• Georgia Power's profit alone was $2.54 billion in 2024, +22.3% over 2023

What's Coming After the 2028 Freeze

This is what justifies aggressive long-term rate projections:

1. Vogtle Long Tail: Customers will pay Vogtle costs through ~2045. Independent analysts estimate $200-300/year continued impact.
2. Data Center Load Growth: Georgia is one of the top data center markets in the country. Georgia Power filed an IRP projecting 8,200 MW of new load growth through 2030. That requires massive new generation and transmission investment.
3. New Capacity Filings: Georgia Power has already filed for 2,000-6,000 MW of new dispatchable generation for 2032-2033 service.
4. Transmission & Generation Expansion: $16 billion in major generation and infrastructure expansion approved by PSC on December 19, 2025 to serve projected data-center load growth, with more capacity filings to follow.
5. Natural Gas Exposure: ~48% of Georgia Power's generation is natural gas. Volatile fuel costs flow through to ratepayers via fuel cost recovery mechanisms.
6. Storm Cost Recovery: Helene 2024 caused massive damage. Costs being recovered separately from the freeze, expected first half of 2026.
7. Federal Policy Headwinds: Princeton study estimates IRA repeal could add $430/year to household energy costs by 2035.

Three Rate Scenarios for Projections

The bottom line: No serious analyst expects Georgia Power rates to stay flat after 2028. The only debate is HOW MUCH they go up. Even the Conservative 5% scenario is half the recent historical pace — and the math still works at that number.

The Rate Story for Reps to Tell

Use this framework when telling the rate increase story to customers:

"Georgia Power has raised rates 30% in 18 months between 2023 and 2024. That's six rate increases in three years. The PSC approved a freeze through 2028 — but that's a freeze, not a rollback. Storm costs from Helene are being recovered separately. After 2028, Vogtle keeps costing customers through 2045, data centers are pulling 8,200 MW of new load, and natural gas exposure means fuel costs flow straight through to your bill. The trend isn't customer-friendly, and there's no reason to expect it to reverse."

Critical Disclosure for All Customers

When discussing rate trajectories, reps must be careful about projection language:

• ✅ "Georgia Power bills have gone up 30% over 18 months 2023-2024" (documented fact)
• ✅ "The PSC has approved a freeze through 2028" (documented fact)
• ✅ "Vogtle costs flow through to customers through ~2045" (documented timeline)
• ❌ "Your bill will be $X by 2030" (speculation)
• ❌ "Rates will definitely double in 10 years" (overstated projection)

Stick to documented history. Let customers draw their own conclusions about future trajectory based on the pattern.

Bill Math: The Real Seasonal Pattern

Customers describe their bill as "$210/month average" but that masks the reality. The actual experience is what drives the pitch.

Without Battery (Current State)

The customer's pain isn't $210 — it's the $400+ winter shock that arrives every December and January when they're paying the most attention to their bills.

Why Their 100% Offset System Doesn't Solve This

For an 8 kW system in Georgia (Atlanta area, 4.5 peak sun hours):

• Annual production: ~11,200 kWh
• Customer's annual consumption: ~11,200 kWh
• Designed to be net-zero on annual basis

But Georgia Power bills monthly with no rollover, and prices imports vs exports at very different rates:

• Solar exports (midday surplus): $0.072/kWh credit
• Imports during off-peak: $0.102/kWh
• Imports during summer on-peak (2-7 PM Jun-Sep): $0.298/kWh
• Plus demand charges if on Smart Usage

The result: Even though annual production = annual consumption, the customer pays $2,520/year because the timing mismatch hammers them. They're producing energy when GA Power values it least and consuming when GA Power charges them most.

With Battery + Overnight Advantage

The battery's biggest value comes in your worst months. Winter savings of $300-375/month are where this product really earns its keep.

Why This Math Works

The battery doesn't have to do much in spring/fall — those bills are already low. But in winter:

• Battery covers 4-6 hours of evening peak grid avoidance
• Overnight grid charging at $0.022/kWh handles the rest
• No demand charges on Overnight Advantage
• Result: $400 winter bill becomes $50 winter bill

In summer:

• Battery covers 2-7 PM on-peak window completely
• Solar covers daytime
• Off-peak rate covers post-7 PM evening
• Result: $185 summer bill becomes $40

25-Year Total Cost Analysis

Without Battery (No Action) — Annual Bills

With Battery + Overnight Advantage — Annual Bills (GA Power only)

Cumulative 25-Year Cost Comparison

Break-Even Calendar

The Year 1 Cost Conversation

Critical to set expectations correctly:

"Here's the year 1 math. Your Georgia Power bill drops from $2,520/year to $363/year — a $2,157 reduction. Your loan payment is $2,520/year. So your total annual outflow goes from $2,520 to $2,883 — that's $363 more per year, or about $30 more per month, in early years.

The biggest savings are in winter. Your December and January bills drop from $400+ to under $50. Spring and fall stay near zero. Summer drops too.

Around year 4-7 depending on how fast Georgia Power raises rates after the freeze, your monthly costs equalize. Around year 7-12, you've recouped all the early extra spending. After year 15, the loan is paid off and you save $5,000-15,000+ per year for another 10 years.

You're trading $30/month in early years for $60,000-127,000 in long-term savings. Plus a brand-new 10-year workmanship warranty on a system that currently has none. Plus rate hedging against documented Georgia Power increases."

Georgia Power Solar Plus Storage Pilot (VPP) — Detailed Rep Guide

The most underutilized piece of the pitch and the closest thing to "free money" customers can earn. This program turns battery owners into mini grid resources — and Georgia Power pays them for it. Reps must understand this thoroughly to speak credibly about it.

Program Background and Status

What it is: A virtual power plant (VPP) program where Georgia Power can call on customer-owned batteries during high-demand periods. Customers earn payments for making their stored energy available.

When it was approved: Georgia PSC approved the pilot in July 2025 as part of the 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) stipulation. Tariff filing followed in late 2025.

Why it exists: Georgia Power is facing massive load growth from data centers (8,200 MW projected through 2030) and needs flexible capacity. Building new power plants takes 5-7 years. Customer batteries are deployable now. The pilot tests whether residential VPP can defer or replace traditional generation investment.

Modeled after: Duke Energy's PowerPair program in North Carolina (launched 2024), which has been highly successful and oversubscribed within months of opening.

Capacity cap: 50 MW total statewide. At ~5-10 kW per residential system, that's roughly 5,000-10,000 customer slots before the program fills.

Status as of early 2026: Approved but not yet enrolling. Tariff filings in regulatory process. Launch anticipated in 2026 but no firm date confirmed.

The Two Tracks Explained

The program offers two enrollment options, and customers must choose one or the other. Reps need to understand the trade-offs.

Track 1: Customer-Directed

How it works: Customer keeps control over their battery. Georgia Power requests dispatch during high-demand events; customer chooses whether to participate. Performance payment only flows for energy actually dispatched.

For a 10 kW Enphase system at typical dispatch (~20 events × 3 hours = 600 kWh/year):

• Upfront: $150
• Annual: ~$900/year
• 10-year potential: ~$9,150
• Best for: Customers who want flexibility and aren't relying on payments to make the loan work

Track 2: Company-Directed

How it works: Customer hands over dispatch control to Georgia Power. They can call on the battery at any time during program events. Customer trades autonomy for a much larger one-time payment.

For a 10 kW Enphase system:

• Standard upfront: $7,500 one-time
• Income-qualifying: $10,000 one-time
• No ongoing payments
• Best for: Customers who want to apply the lump sum to their battery loan principal to pay it off faster

For a 5 kW SolarEdge system:

• Standard upfront: $3,750 one-time
• Income-qualifying: $5,000 one-time

Important note on Service Finance loans: Customers can apply their VPP rebate to their loan principal as a lump sum payment, which shortens the loan term but does NOT lower the monthly payment. Service Finance does not allow re-amortization. So if a customer takes the Company-Directed rebate of $7,500-10,000 and applies it to their loan, their $210/month payment continues unchanged but the loan ends earlier — meaning they save on total interest and gain ownership of their battery sooner. Reps should NOT promise customers a lower monthly payment from the VPP rebate.

Why This Program Will Likely Be Oversubscribed Quickly

Reps should understand the urgency narrative:

1. 50 MW cap divided across all of Georgia Power's 2.4 million customers = a tiny percentage will get in
2. Duke's PowerPair filled within 6 months of launch in NC despite being 100 MW
3. High-bill customers and orphaned solar customers are most motivated to enroll quickly
4. Customers without batteries already installed will face longer wait times because they need to procure, install, and commission before enrolling
5. Top Tier customers have an advantage — battery already installed, ready to enroll day one

The urgency pitch:

"When this program launches, it's going to fill quickly. North Carolina's similar program filled in under a year despite being twice the size. Customers with batteries already installed will be ready to enroll day one — customers without batteries are looking at 60-90 days minimum to procure and install before they can apply. By that point, the program may be capped."

Income-Qualifying Eligibility (LMI/MUSH)

The higher tier ($1,000/kW vs $750/kW) requires customer to qualify under one of these categories:

LMI (Low-to-Moderate Income): Household income at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) for their county. Georgia Power uses HUD-published AMI data updated annually.

For reference (2025 figures, will update):

• Cobb County 80% AMI for family of 4: ~$78,400
• Fulton County: ~$80,650
• Paulding County: ~$70,800
• Bartow County: ~$58,250

MUSH (Municipalities, Universities, Schools, Hospitals): Public sector institutions. Not relevant to residential pitch.

How to qualify a customer:

Don't try to verify income yourself. Tell the customer: "There's a higher tier of payment for households with income below a certain threshold. When the program launches, you can apply for that tier — Georgia Power handles the verification. For a typical family of 4, the threshold is around $70,000-80,000 depending on your county. If you're below that, you'd qualify for the higher payment."

Technical Requirements (Things Customers Will Ask)

Based on the tariff filings and the Duke PowerPair model, expect these requirements:

1. Compatible battery system — Both SolarEdge and Enphase are pre-approved manufacturers (most major brands are)
2. Internet-connected battery — Battery must be reachable via cloud for dispatch signaling
3. Minimum continuous power output — Likely 3 kW minimum (both products easily exceed this)
4. Minimum reserve capacity for dispatch — Customer agrees to maintain at least X% of capacity available for dispatch during program windows
5. Multi-year commitment — Likely 5-10 year enrollment commitment with prorated penalties for early withdrawal

Common Customer Questions

"What if Georgia Power damages my battery from too much dispatch?" Battery cycling during VPP events is well within manufacturer-approved usage. Battery warranties cover normal cycling. The dispatch frequency (~20 events/year × 3 hours each) is far below daily cycling that batteries handle without issue.

"What happens if I sell my house?" Most VPP programs allow transfer to new homeowner if they want to continue, or termination of the agreement when ownership changes. Specific Georgia Power terms TBD when tariff publishes.

"Will I lose backup power during dispatch?" For Top Tier installations, no — these batteries are configured as self-consumption only with no backup function. Dispatch reduces stored energy but doesn't affect home operations beyond reducing the battery's ability to cover evening loads.

"What if I don't want to participate in dispatch events?" Customer-Directed track lets you opt out of individual events. Company-Directed track does not — you've handed over dispatch control in exchange for the larger upfront payment.

"Are these payments taxable?" Generally yes — utility incentive payments are taxable income. Customers should consult a tax advisor.

Honest Limitations

1. Launch timing uncertain. "Approved" doesn't mean "open for enrollment." Could be 3 months, could be 18 months.
2. 50 MW cap is small. Customers shouldn't bank on getting in.
3. Payment estimates are based on early modeling. Actual dispatch frequency, hours per event, and total events per year aren't finalized.
4. VPP economics aren't part of base savings projections in our calculator — they're upside.
5. VPP rebate applied to loan shortens term, doesn't lower payment. Service Finance does not re-amortize loans on lump sum payments.

Top Tier System Rescue Value (Beyond Utility Programs)

Independent of any utility-specific consideration, Top Tier delivers concrete value by taking over the customer's existing solar system when we install the battery. This is one of Top Tier's strongest value drivers.

Reps should understand this as a supporting value lever — but in Georgia, it's often the single most powerful pitch point because so many customers are orphaned.

The Orphaned Solar Customer Problem

Many Georgia solar customers fall into a pattern Top Tier is uniquely positioned to solve:

• They installed solar between 2019 and 2024 during Georgia's solar growth period
• Their original installer has gone out of business, been acquired, or stopped servicing residential customers (especially common after the federal solar tax credit expired Dec 2025)
• Their original 10-year workmanship warranty is unenforceable (installer is gone)
• Their inverter is approaching or already past typical failure windows (8-15 years for SolarEdge string inverters)
• They have no service relationship for ongoing maintenance
• Most other solar companies refuse to service systems they didn't install (liability concerns)

These customers are walking around with a 25-year solar asset and no functional service or workmanship coverage. When their inverter fails, they're stuck.

The Inverter Failure Reality

Inverters are the weakest link in any solar system. The panels themselves typically last 25-30 years with minimal degradation. The inverter — which converts the panels' DC output to AC for home use — typically fails much sooner.

Typical inverter failure windows:

• SolarEdge string inverters: 8-15 years (manufacturer warranty 12 years standard, 25 years with extended)
• Enphase microinverters: 10-20 years (manufacturer warranty 25 years)
• Industry-wide: 70-90% of solar systems will experience inverter failure within the panel lifespan

When an inverter fails on an orphaned system:

1. Solar production stops completely
2. Customer's bills jump from low to full retail rates
3. Customer needs to find a service provider (most won't quote orphaned systems)
4. Out-of-pocket replacement cost: $3,500-5,000
5. Time without solar: typically 4-8 weeks while waiting for service, parts, scheduling

What Top Tier System Takeover Provides

When Top Tier installs a battery, the integration work creates the legal and technical basis for us to take over service responsibility for the entire system. This is formalized through a Service Warranty Agreement that includes a brand-new 10-year Limited Workmanship and Roof Penetration Warranty issued by Top Tier — separate from any manufacturer warranty on the equipment itself.

The takeover provides:

• A new 10-year Top Tier workmanship warranty — Covers workmanship and roof penetrations on the existing system from the date of acceptance, regardless of how old the system is. This is fresh coverage, not advocacy within an expired warranty.
• Manufacturer warranty claim handling — When equipment defects occur within manufacturer warranty terms (SolarEdge, Enphase, etc.), Top Tier handles the claim and the labor; customer doesn't have to chase the manufacturer or find a service provider
• Inverter replacement coverage when applicable — If the inverter fails within the manufacturer's warranty, Top Tier handles the replacement; customer pays nothing for the work
• Single point of contact — Customer no longer has to track down their original installer or hunt for someone willing to service their system
• Monitoring setup help — Top Tier helps customers access SolarEdge or Enphase monitoring apps (many orphaned customers were never properly walked through setup)
• Performance verification — Top Tier identifies and addresses underperforming panels, dirty array, shading issues, and similar issues during the takeover inspection

Align Solar Protection service contract — 5-year added coverage on the existing system

Every Top Tier installation includes — at no extra cost, built into the price — the Align Solar Protection service contract. This is a standard inclusion, not an upsell. Customers don't choose it, opt in, or pay separately for it.

Terms:

• 5-year term from system acceptance
• $0 deductible on covered claims
• Insurance-backed: Align's obligations are insured by a third-party policy issued by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida, so the coverage holds even if Align itself couldn't perform

What it covers:

• Mechanical breakdown of the customer's EXISTING solar PV equipment — panels, microinverters/optimizers, string/central inverters, and racking
• Parts, labor, and service calls are all paid by the contract

What it does NOT cover:

• The new battery — that has its own 10-year manufacturer warranty; the Align contract is for the customer's pre-existing equipment, not the battery we install
• Normal wear-and-tear, weather/storm/hail damage, pre-existing conditions, or roof issues (those last two are why the inspection exists)

Honest limits — reps must not oversell:

Coverage is contingent on a system inspection and Align's approval. Eligibility depends on equipment age and remaining manufacturer-warranty time:

• Panels and microinverters/optimizers: under 15 years old
• String/central inverters: under 7 years old

Not every existing system fully qualifies. If a customer's inverter is 9 years old or their panels are 16, parts of the system may be excluded — Top Tier discloses what's covered and what isn't at inspection. Never pitch this as "everything is covered" or as the customer's only coverage. It covers mechanical breakdown (defects in materials/workmanship); it does not cover wear, weather, or roof problems.

How it fits the broader coverage picture:

The 5-year Align contract is one added layer in a coordinated three-part coverage stack. It is NOT the customer's only or total coverage — describing it that way is overselling. The layers are:

1. The equipment's own manufacturer warranties — typically longer than 5 years (panels 25 yr, microinverters 25 yr, string inverters 12+ yr) — Top Tier handles the claims
2. Top Tier's 10-year workmanship and roof penetration warranty — covers installation work + roof seal integrity
3. The added 5-year Align service contract — covers mechanical breakdown of the existing PV equipment

These layers stack and overlap. Together they answer the orphaned-customer worry without overpromising.

Manufacturer warranty coordination — separate from the Align contract:

In addition to the Align contract, Top Tier coordinates manufacturer warranty claims at no cost — on both the new battery and the customer's pre-existing solar equipment. This directly answers the hardest worry the existing-inverter pitch surfaces: that no installer will service someone else's system. Top Tier does.

Pitch language for reps:

"Between the manufacturer warranties on your existing equipment — which we handle the claims for — Top Tier's new 10-year workmanship warranty, and an added 5-year Align service contract that covers mechanical breakdown on your existing solar equipment, your system is looked after. The Align contract is included standard — there's no upsell. Coverage on your specific equipment is confirmed at the inspection; if anything doesn't qualify (panels over 15 years, inverter over 7), we'll be straight with you about what's covered and what isn't."

Things reps must NEVER say:

• "Everything on your solar is covered" — wrong; mechanical breakdown only, not wear or weather
• "You don't need to worry about anything ever again" — wrong; age limits + inspection contingency apply
• "The Align contract is your full coverage" — wrong; it's one of three layers
• "You can extend this beyond 5 years" — the term is 5 years, full stop

How the Takeover Works

The system takeover is contingent on Top Tier completing a full site survey and inspection. The inspection confirms the system is:

• In good working order
• Compliant with applicable building and electrical codes
• Installed in a manner consistent with Top Tier's workmanship standards

Top Tier reserves the right to decline takeover if the system is found to be non-compliant, hazardous, or otherwise deficient. If declined, the customer receives written notice within 7 calendar days along with a summary of findings.

Key points reps need to understand and disclose:

• The takeover is NOT automatic — it depends on the system passing inspection
• The 10-year workmanship warranty applies only to the system as identified at acceptance — not to anything added or altered by other parties afterward
• Top Tier is not liable for defects, malfunctions, or damages from work performed by the original installer before the takeover date
• Manufacturer warranties on equipment (panels, inverters, batteries) remain governed by their original terms — Top Tier doesn't extend those, but handles the claims process

Quantifying the Value

The system rescue value is real money, even though it's not always realized:

This is independent of bill savings or rate hedging. The system rescue alone could be worth $4,000-7,500 in avoided out-of-pocket costs and new warranty coverage.

Why Georgia Customers Especially Benefit

Several factors make system rescue particularly valuable in Georgia:

1. Georgia solar boom installations are now hitting failure window. Systems installed 2019-2023 during the state's biggest solar growth years are now 3-7 years old — approaching the inverter failure danger zone, often past most original installer workmanship warranties (or those warranties are unenforceable because the installer is gone).
2. Federal ITC is gone. Customers can't replace their solar system at 30% off anymore. Keeping the existing system working matters more than ever.
3. Many Georgia solar installers have gone out of business. The 2010s-2020s solar boom produced many installers that didn't survive the post-ITC market consolidation. Georgia has thousands of orphaned solar customers.

Pitch Language for Reps

For an orphaned customer (their installer is gone):

"Most companies won't even quote you on servicing your existing solar because they didn't install it and don't want the liability. Top Tier solves that. Once we integrate the battery and complete our inspection, we issue you a new 10-year workmanship and roof penetration warranty on your existing system. If your inverter fails in year 10, we handle the manufacturer warranty claim. If you have a roof leak around a panel mount, that's our 10-year workmanship coverage. Without us, you're paying $3,500-5,000 out of pocket and scrambling to find a service provider."

For a customer with a working system but skeptical about the financial pitch:

"Beyond the bill savings and the rate hedging, there's another value most customers don't think about. Your original 10-year workmanship warranty from your installer has either expired or doesn't matter because your installer is no longer in business. When we take over the system, we issue you a new 10-year workmanship and roof penetration warranty. That alone is typically worth $1,500-3,000 in avoided repair costs over 10 years."

When to Lead With System Rescue vs. Layer It In

Lead with system rescue when:

• Customer mentions their original installer is out of business
• Customer asks who will service their system
• Customer has had recent system performance issues
• Customer mentions concerns about roof leaks or aging system
• Customer is on grandfathered Monthly Netting (financial pitch is weakest)
• Customer is older and concerned about being "left high and dry"

Layer it in as supporting value when:

• Customer is on RNR-Instantaneous and the bill leak story is dominant
• Customer is primarily motivated by bill economics
• Customer is a "show me the math" type who wants to add up every value driver

Honest Caveats Reps Must Disclose

1. Takeover requires passing the site inspection. Top Tier reserves the right to decline systems that are non-compliant, hazardous, or below workmanship standards. Customer gets written notice within 7 days if declined.
2. The 10-year Top Tier workmanship warranty is fresh coverage — but it only applies to the existing system as identified at acceptance. Anything added or altered by other parties afterward isn't covered.
3. Pre-existing damage isn't Top Tier's responsibility. If the customer's system has issues that pre-date the takeover and weren't disclosed during inspection, Top Tier isn't liable for them.
4. Manufacturer warranties on equipment have their own terms. Top Tier doesn't extend or replace SolarEdge, Enphase, or panel manufacturer warranties — but handles the claim process when equipment fails within those warranty terms.
5. Out-of-warranty replacements still cost money. If an inverter fails after its manufacturer warranty has expired (e.g., year 13 on a 12-year warranty), the customer still pays for the replacement equipment — Top Tier handles the work but isn't covering the cost of the new inverter.
6. System rescue requires the battery install. This isn't a service Top Tier sells separately. The battery integration is what creates the basis for taking over the system.

Federal Tax Credit Status (Important for All Customers)

The federal residential ITC for direct-purchase solar/battery EXPIRED December 31, 2025.

This is critical for reps to understand because customers may have heard about the 30% tax credit and expect it. It's gone for direct purchases as of January 1, 2026.

What still exists:

• Commercial ITC for third-party-owned systems (lease/PPA models)
• Georgia property tax assessment treatment (varies by county)

What's gone:

• 30% federal tax credit for purchased systems
• This represents ~$5,000-7,500 of lost incentive value on a typical $17,000 install

How to handle the conversation:

"You may have heard about the 30% federal tax credit. Unfortunately, that expired at the end of 2025 for direct purchases. Some lease and PPA models still qualify because the leasing company can claim a commercial credit. But for cash or financed purchases like ours, the federal credit is no longer available. The trade-off: you own the asset directly, no monthly lease payment."

This is honest and disarms customers who might be expecting a credit that doesn't exist.

Loan Economics

Service Finance loan structure (verify exact terms with operations).

Important: Service Finance does NOT allow re-amortization. Lump sum payments shorten the loan term but do not lower the monthly payment.

For customers who eventually receive a VPP rebate ($3,750-10,000 depending on track and tier), the rebate can be applied to loan principal — shortens the term, doesn't lower the monthly payment.

Battery Products

Top Tier offers five batteries across two configurations. In Georgia Power territory the standard configuration is self-consumption only (no backup) — driven by the economics of the Georgia pitch, where the bill leak problem is solved without the additional cost of backup hardware. If a customer specifically requires backup, the Tesla or Franklin specialty options are available — discuss with operations.

Standard batteries — pair with the customer's existing inverter:

• SolarEdge Home Battery (10 kWh / 5 kW continuous, 10-year manufacturer warranty) — pairs with SolarEdge inverters; DC-coupled; cheapest entry. 5 kW continuous limits backup loads to essentials if backup is ever added.
• 2× Enphase IQ Battery 5P (10 kWh total / 10 kW continuous, 15-year manufacturer warranty) — pairs with Enphase microinverters; AC-coupled; 10 kW continuous output supports more backup loads simultaneously than SolarEdge.
• SolarEdge Nexis Battery (10 kWh / 7 kW continuous, 10-year manufacturer warranty) — pairs with SolarEdge inverters; DC-coupled; modular — expand block by block as the customer's needs grow. Backup configuration pending crew training; currently self-consumption only.

Specialty backup-capable options — for customers who explicitly want backup:

• Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh / 11.5 kW continuous, 10-year manufacturer warranty) — AC-couples onto an existing solar system regardless of inverter brand; built-in inverter, no separate gateway; highest continuous output; whole-home backup viable. Sizing nuance: each PW3 supports roughly 7.68 kW of existing AC inverter output — larger arrays need a second unit or solar production gets throttled.
• Franklin aPower 2 (15 kWh / 10 kW continuous, 15-year manufacturer warranty) — AC-coupled, works with any inverter brand; largest capacity in the lineup; strong warranty story; no per-unit sizing ratio.

All five batteries meet typical VPP program requirements:

• 10+ year defect warranty
• DERMS-ready / OpenADR compatible (utility dispatch capable)

Customer Qualification Questions

Adapt these for Georgia Power customers:

1. "What's your highest bill been in the last 12 months?" Surfaces winter pain.
2. "What size solar system do you have?" Confirms 100% offset profile.
3. "When was your solar installed?" Determines RNR program tier (pre or post July 2021).
4. "Who installed your solar? Are they still in business?" Confirms orphaned status.
5. "Do you have access to your solar monitoring? Can you see daily production?" Diagnostic.
6. "Are you on Smart Usage, standard residential, or do you know?" Informs rate switch pitch.
7. "How important is backup power to you?" If very important, this isn't the product.
8. "Are you familiar with Georgia Power's net metering rules and how they changed in 2021?" Tests sophistication.
9. "Are you comfortable with your total monthly cost going up by $30 for the first few years if it means saving $60K+ long-term?" Direct test of customer fit.

Walk-Away Profile

When NOT to push the sale:

• Customer wants total monthly cost to drop in year 1
• Customer is on legacy RNR-Monthly Netting AND has low bills (battery has lower marginal value)
• Average bills under $150/month with no winter spike
• Existing solar isn't producing close to design (system is broken)
• Customer won't switch to Overnight Advantage rate plan
• Customer wants their bill to drop in year 1 (will not happen with new federal ITC gone)
• Customer is on FlatBill or Pay-by-Day rate plans (battery economics need monthly billing)

Required Customer Disclosures

Every quote must include:

1. ☐ Battery configuration explicitly stated — self-consumption only, NO backup power
2. ☐ Total monthly cost increases by $25-30 in years 1-3 due to loan payment exceeding bill savings
3. ☐ Rate plan switch to Overnight Advantage required to capture full value
4. ☐ Long-term savings depend on Georgia Power rate increases continuing post-freeze
5. ☐ Service Finance loan is unsecured and includes dealer fees (~$5,068 above $17,000 cash price)
6. ☐ Service Finance does not allow re-amortization — lump sum payments shorten term, not monthly payment
7. ☐ Federal ITC expired December 31, 2025 for direct purchases
8. ☐ Break-even on monthly cash flow occurs around year 4-7 depending on rate trajectory
9. ☐ System takeover terms explained — Top Tier issues a new 10-year Limited Workmanship and Roof Penetration Warranty on accepted systems (does not extend OEM equipment warranties)
10. ☐ Takeover contingent on passing site inspection — Top Tier reserves right to decline non-compliant systems
11. ☐ Inverter failure timing is statistical, not guaranteed — replacement costs of $3,500-5,000 are estimates based on typical equipment

For VPP-related discussions (additional disclosures):

1. ☐ Georgia Power Solar Plus Storage Pilot is approved but not yet enrolling — launch timing not guaranteed
2. ☐ Customer is not guaranteed access to the program (50 MW statewide cap)
3. ☐ VPP rebate applied to loan shortens term, not monthly payment (Service Finance does not re-amortize)
4. ☐ Income qualification for higher rebate tier verified by Georgia Power, not Top Tier

Objection Handling

"Will my monthly cost actually drop?"

"Your Georgia Power bill drops by about $180/month on average — and by $300-375/month in winter. Your loan payment is $210/month. Total goes UP by about $30/month in early years, equalizes around year 5-7 as rates climb, then drops dramatically once the loan is paid off in year 15. Long-term you save $60-127K."

"Why is the loan more than the system price?"

"$17,000 is the cash system price. Service Finance adds dealer fees that bring the financed amount to about $22,068. If you can pay cash or use a HELOC, those are cheaper options."

"Why am I paying $400 in January if my solar covers 100%?"

"Because the sun goes down at 4:30 in January. Your solar produces almost nothing after that, but you're running heat for 14+ hours overnight. Georgia Power's billing structure means you pay retail to buy that power back. The battery covers the worst hours so you don't pay retail anymore."

"What if rates don't keep going up?"

"Three things make that nearly impossible: Vogtle costs are baked in until 2045, Georgia data center load growth drove $16B in generation and infrastructure spending approved December 2025, and the rate freeze ends in 2028. Even at 5% annual growth — half the recent pace — you save $60K. Faster growth means better deal."

"Why don't I just wait?"

"Your bills compound while you wait. Every year of delay is another $2,500+ to Georgia Power. And if your inverter fails before you have warranty coverage, you're out $3,500-5,000 out of pocket."

"What if I sell the house before the loan is paid off?"

"Solar plus battery raises your home's value at sale. Your closing equity pays off whatever's left on the loan, so the new owner inherits a fully-owned system with no payment to take over. Most warranties carry over: Top Tier's 10-year workmanship and roof penetration warranty transfers to the new owner with written consent (we coordinate this at closing), and the manufacturer warranties on your inverter and battery transfer per the manufacturers' own terms. The 5-year Align Solar Protection service contract is non-transferable — the seller benefits from the inspection and 5-year coverage. The next owner gets a turnkey, manufacturer-warrantied system; you get a higher sale price."

"What if my inverter fails after you install the battery?"

"If your inverter fails within its manufacturer warranty, we handle the warranty claim — you don't pay for the replacement work. If it fails after warranty expires, you'd pay for new equipment, but we still handle the labor through our 10-year workmanship coverage on the install. Either way, you're not scrambling to find a service provider."

"Can't I get someone else to service my old system?"

"Try it. Most won't quote you. The ones who will, charge premium rates because they're inheriting liability for work they didn't do. Top Tier will only do it because we're already integrating the battery, and we issue you a new 10-year workmanship warranty after our inspection confirms the system is in good shape. That's coverage you literally cannot get from anyone else."

"What about backup power for outages?"

"This battery doesn't do that — it's configured for self-consumption only. If backup is important, we should talk about a different product configuration. I want to be upfront so there are no surprises."

"Why didn't my installer warn me about this?"

"Honestly, most installers in 2019-2021 expected the Monthly Netting program to expand. It didn't. The 2022 rate case decision and the 2025 IRP order made it clear the program is permanently capped. Many installers also went out of business in 2024-2025 as the federal solar tax credit expiration approached. You didn't make a bad decision — the market changed under you. Top Tier is showing up to fix what's broken."

What To Say · What NOT To Say (Georgia Edition)

Reading a Georgia Power Bill

The rate rider field alone can be misleading. Both programs sometimes display similar terminology. The reliable way to identify which program a customer is on is to look at how solar generation is calculated on page 2 of their bill.

RNR-Monthly Netting (Grandfathered)

Look for:

• Solar production deducted from total kWh used in the meter reading section BEFORE billing calculations
• Bill calculation pattern: (Total Usage – Total Solar Production) × retail rate
• Excess generation beyond monthly usage credited at avoided cost only as a separate line
• May rollover any excess as credits on next month's bill
• Customer's bill will show a much lower net usage number than what they actually consumed
• This program is active through December 31, 2038 for those already enrolled — cannot be added to

RNR-Instantaneous Netting (Current Standard)

Look for:

• Separate line items showing "Renewables Generation Credit" at $0.032188/kWh AND "Renewables Generation Adder" at $0.040000/kWh
• Combined total = $0.072/kWh on exports
• Customer pays full retail on all imports — solar production does NOT offset usage in the calculation
• Rate rider may show "RNR" or "RNR-11" or "RNR Bi-Directional"

The "Bi-Directional" label refers to the bidirectional meter, not the netting program. Don't be fooled — verify by looking at the calculation method.

Energy Offset Only

• No credit lines for exports
• Customer thinks they have a "solar program" but no credits appear on their bill
• Rare but exists — check if you see no export credits despite customer having solar

How rate plan affects the pitch

Quick-Reference Numbers

Accurate as of early 2026. Verify before quoting in customer conversations.

• Solar Buy Back rate (export credit): $0.072/kWh
• Standard residential retail: ~$0.14/kWh
• Overnight Advantage on-peak summer: $0.298/kWh
• Overnight Advantage off-peak: $0.102/kWh
• Overnight Advantage super off-peak (overnight): $0.022/kWh
• Smart Usage demand charge: $12.21/kW per month
• Vogtle bill impact: ~$14.38/month for typical customer
• Recent rate increase: 30.8% over 18 months (Jan 2023 - June 2024)
• Average current GA Power bill: ~$171/month
• Net metering cap: 5,000 customers, hit July 2021
• Current rate freeze: Through 2028 (storm costs separate)
• GA Power Solar Plus Storage Pilot: 50 MW, approved July 2025, launching TBD

Final Thoughts for Reps

Three things to internalize about the Georgia Power market:

1. The pitch is about stopping the value leak in their solar. Most customers are bleeding 50-80% of their solar value to Georgia Power's billing structure. Don't let them think their solar is "broken" — it's working. The utility's rules are taking the value.

2. System rescue is often the strongest pitch point. Many Georgia customers are orphaned by defunct installers. A brand-new 10-year workmanship warranty is something competitors literally cannot offer. This pairs especially well with the bill savings story.

3. Rate increases in Georgia are documented and consistent. Don't speculate about future trajectories — point to the documented 30% increase 2023-2024, the freeze ending in 2028, Vogtle through 2045, data center load growth, and natural gas exposure. The customer can draw their own conclusions.

The strongest Georgia rep is one who:

• Identifies which RNR program the customer is on within the first 5 minutes
• Can explain the bill leak math clearly using their actual usage pattern
• Tells the system rescue story with the specifics of the 10-year workmanship warranty
• Treats winter pain ($400 December bills) as the emotional anchor of the pitch
• Walks away from customers who don't fit the profile
• Discloses the year 1 cost increase honestly without trying to hide it

This document is for internal Top Tier sales use only. Update annually as utility programs, rates, and regulations change. The Georgia Power regulatory landscape is evolving rapidly — verify specific program details before quoting customers.