Jean,
You might have seen the headlines recently: the Public Service Commission last month voted 5-0 to lower Georgia Power’s fuel rate.
That sounds like a win. But if you’re looking at your summer power bill right now, you’re probably wondering: Why is my bill higher?
The main reason is that summer rates are hitting hard. Your rates go up in the summertime when the cost of running the electric grid increases. That makes energy efficiency and residential solar—which displaces costly grid power—all the more valuable.
Your bill also increased because the fuel rate is higher. During that fuel cost recovery vote, I introduced motions to lower the impact on your electric bill and demand real accountability from the utility monopolies. My amendments would have saved Georgia families another $50 million.
What happened? The GOP majority blocked it. They voted straight down party lines to deny Georgia ratepayers the relief they actually deserve. I am doing everything in my power to move the needle this year.
Right now, I am fighting to:
- Expand energy efficiency programs: The programs we currently have in Georgia are weak, underfunded, and buried in cumbersome paperwork and bureaucracy. It shouldn’t take a law degree to figure out how to make your home more efficient.
- Allow for balcony solar: We need to cut the red tape so everyday Georgians can generate their own power and directly reduce their monthly costs.
But I’ll be honest with you. As long as the current majority holds the gavel, pro-consumer policies will face a brick wall.
The bottom line is simple: we need to change the math on the Commission.
When we win this year—when both Sheila and I win our races—we will cement a 3-2 pro-consumer majority for the next four years.
It is time we stop playing defense against endless rate hikes and start demanding an energy future built for Georgia families: a strategy that prioritizes lower costs, scales up affordable clean energy, and finally stops giving data centers a free pass.
Let’s win this in November, together.
Peter Hubbard
Public Service Commissioner
Your Georgia Power Bill
Public Service Commissioner Peter Hubbard on why your Georgia Power bill is higher. Third Act Georgia has endorsed Peter Hubbard's candidacy for a full-term on the PSC.
