Public Service Commissioners are Powerful

PSC voted 4 – 1 to increase Atlanta Gas Light monthly bills $1.14,
effective November 3rd
PSC is considering Georgia Power request for automatic rate hikes on electricity
Consumer advocates fighting the requested Georgia Power rate hike include
MARTA, AARP and Georgia Watch, but individuals should call the commissioners, as well.

Georgia’s five Public Service Commissioners are constitutional officers that serve six-year staggered terms. So, there’s never a complete turn-over. They all campaign state-wide and are elected by all Georgia voters, although each must live in the district he represents. PSC is an extremely important regulatory agency that certifies land-line telephone companies that do business in Georgia and sets policy and rates for utilities – electricity, transportation, natural gas and telecommunications. The executive director of PSC is in charge of pipeline safety. PSC authority over transportation includes such businesses as couriers, movers and limousines.

Perhaps, their least-known responsibility is a periodic review of Georgia nuclear power plants, such as Plant Vogtle in Augusta, where PSC oversees the plant’s $6.4 billion expansion. PSC has scheduled three meetings to hear Georgia Power’s Third Semi-Annual Vogtle Construction Report for the period ending 12-31-09. These meetings are open to the public and will be in the Commission Hearing Room, 244 Washington Street, Atlanta on November 22nd, December 21st and January 20, 2011. Audio of PSC meetings is broadcast live online at www.psc.state.ga.us.

This year’s newly elected commissioner of District 2 takes office January 1st and will serve through December 2016. But, in the remaining weeks of this term, PSC will make decisions that will seriously affect consumer wallets. Get to know these powerful commissioners. Their every decision affects the standard of living for consumers.

This month Georgia Power is requesting authority to implement AUTOMATIC rate increases once or twice a year, if company profit isn’t near 12 percent. Already, Georgia Power affiliates in Alabama and Mississippi automatically increase rates for their customers. Don’t think that can’t happen here. If PSC allows automatic increases here, Georgia Power would collect over $1 billion more over the next three years, totaling an extra $137 per customer during that time.

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