Savannah, GA relocation guide for Korean expats: utilities, vehicle registration, schools

A settling-in guide for Savannah (Chatham County) and Bryan County, home of the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant (HMGMA). Your electric company (Georgia Power or Coastal Electric Cooperative), school district and county tag office depend on your address. For statewide topics like driver licenses, insurance and vehicle registration, see the Georgia guide.

Everything here was checked on official sources (state agencies, cities, utilities, school districts); each item shows its source and the date we checked it. Rules change — confirm with the agency before you apply.

Utilities

Electricity: Georgia Power

Addresses in Georgia Power's service area

Georgia Power says it built the Big Ogeechee substation to serve existing and future customers in the Metropolitan Savannah Area, which includes Chatham, Bryan and Effingham counties. Confirm your address is in Georgia Power's area first (parts of Bryan County are served by Coastal Electric, below).

• Start service: online through Start/Stop Service on Georgia Power's site, or call residential customer service at 1-888-660-5890 (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–7 p.m.).
• New account fee: $30 New Account Establishment Fee (per the residential rate plan page).
• Deposit: may be required based on your credit score and any unpaid balances; up to two times the home's average monthly bill. If required, it cannot be waived.
• The deposit is not applied to your monthly bill and earns 3% simple interest. When you close the account, the deposit and interest go toward your final bill and any remainder is mailed within 30–45 days.

Expats without U.S. credit history may be asked for a deposit, so ask ahead.

Source: Georgia Power (checked 2026-10-20) · Georgia Power (checked 2026-10-20) · Georgia Power (checked 2026-10-20)

Electricity: Coastal Electric Cooperative (Bryan County and others)

Addresses in Coastal Electric Cooperative's service area

Coastal Electric Cooperative serves Bryan, Liberty, Long and McIntosh counties. Bryan County addresses such as Richmond Hill may be in its territory, so check your address.

• Apply online, or visit the Midway office (1265 South Coastal Highway) or the Richmond Hill office (3700 U.S. 17 South).
• Required fees: $5 membership fee (refundable) + $28 activation fee (non-refundable).
• Deposit: based on your personal credit history; if needed, no more than $500.
• Advance Pay instead of a deposit: $83 to start ($5 membership + $28 activation + $50 prepaid credit). No monthly bills, deposits or late fees.
• Same-day service at existing locations for requests before 3 p.m.; requests after 3 p.m. incur a $50 connection fee.

Source: Coastal Electric Cooperative (checked 2026-10-20) · Coastal Electric Cooperative (checked 2026-10-20)

Natural gas: choose a marketer in Atlanta Gas Light's area

Addresses in Atlanta Gas Light's service area

The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) says natural gas deregulation applies only in Atlanta Gas Light's (AGL) service area. AGL's tariff lists a Savannah Pool among the areas of its service territory.

• In AGL's area, AGL maintains the pipes and you choose a PSC-certified natural gas marketer, signing up by phone, online or in writing.
• Compare marketers with the PSC's Marketer Scorecard and monthly pricing list.
• If every marketer turns you down (for example, over credit), you can sign up with the Regulated Provider, which requires a $150 deposit refunded after six consecutive months of full, on-time payments.
• Gas emergencies outside metro Atlanta: AGL 1-877-427-4321.

Ask your landlord or AGL whether your address is in AGL's area.

Source: Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) (checked 2026-10-20) · Atlanta Gas Light (checked 2026-10-20)

Vehicle registration

Register at your county tag office (Tax Commissioner)

In Georgia you title and register your vehicle at your county's County Tag Office (Tax Commissioner). Do it within 30 days of moving, after you get a Georgia driver's license or ID.

• Chatham County (Savannah, Pooler and more): Chatham County Tax Commissioner, with offices including Bloomingdale, Downtown, Port Wentworth, Southside, Westside and Wilmington Island. You can book an appointment and check wait times online. Call (912) 652-7100; tag questions: tag@chathamcounty.org.
• Bryan County (Richmond Hill, Ellabell and more) and Bulloch County (Statesboro): find your Tax Commissioner's site on Georgia DOR's County Tag Offices list.
• Chatham and Bryan are not on DOR's list of emissions-inspection counties.

For documents and costs (including the 3% TAVT), see "Vehicle registration and title" in the Georgia guide.

Source: Chatham County Tax Commissioner (checked 2026-10-20) · Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) (checked 2026-10-20) · Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) (checked 2026-10-20)

Schools

Enrolling in Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools (SCCPSS)

Chatham County residents

SCCPSS registration for grades K–12 is a two-step online process (2026–27 new student registration is open). 1. Submit the online application from the district's Registration page and upload your documents. Scan or save them beforehand. 2. School staff contact you to complete registration. If you hear nothing in 3–5 school days, contact the school.

Documents for students new to the district (K–12): - Original, government-issued birth certificate (enter the name and birthdate exactly as on it) - Proof of address: current lease or rental agreement, mortgage statement, home purchase agreement, utility bill (electric, gas and water only), or government mail within the last 30 days - Parent/guardian government-issued ID - Social Security card: voluntary; if you don't provide it, you fill out a waiver form for an alternative number - Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231) within 30 days of enrollment - Certificate of vision, hearing, dental and nutrition within 120 days of enrollment

Not accepted as proof of address: tax documents, vehicle registration, phone, internet or cable bills, bank statements, pay stubs, handwritten leases and more. Without a computer, book an appointment at the Student & Family Service Center (400 East Broad Street, 912-395-5584).

Source: Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (checked 2026-10-20)

Enrolling in Bryan County Schools

Bryan County residents

Bryan County Schools takes 2026–27 new student registration through an online portal; if you have trouble, you can bring the documents and register in person at the school.

• Students must reside in Bryan County with their natural parent(s) or court-approved legal guardian(s). Families living with another Bryan County resident complete a Joint Residency Affidavit.
• Kindergarten: the child must be 5 on or before September 1 of the school year.
• Families buying or building a home need a non-contingent sales contract and a sworn statement from the builder or realtor that they will move in within nine weeks; bus service starts only after the move.
• See the "Documents Needed for Registration" link on the registration page for the document list.
• Registration takes about 20–25 minutes; processing can take up to 2 business days. You cannot change anything online after you submit.
• South Bryan (Richmond Hill) attendance zones are linked from the registration page.
• District office: 912-851-4000

Source: Bryan County Schools (checked 2026-10-20)

Related guides

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• Relocation checklist
• Open jobs in Georgia
• Send a tip or correction — we check it against the official source first

General information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. For prices and quotes, ask a licensed professional.

Last checked: 2026-10-20

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