The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) has a choice: whether or not to prioritize Georgia Power’s profits over the people’s interest. And their recent history shows us they prefer profits. We will not stand for this.
Georgia Power is asking the PSC for permission to increase their monthly bills to cover fuel expenses. Georgia Power is asking for at least $2.1 billion, but this could bounce up to $2.6 billion if fuel costs go up during the summer. According to the AJC, the PSC has “the final say on whether to approve or tweak the company’s ask. However, since Georgia Power does not earn profits on fuel expenses, utility regulators have traditionally allowed those costs to be passed on to customers with little adjustment.”
If this request is approved, the average customer’s bill could increase by around $17-23 per month, starting in June. The official hearings on the matter will take place on May 1st and 2nd.
This request comes just months after the last rate case increase in December 2022, during which the PSC approved increases on customers’ bills for a total of $1.8 billion over the next three years. The average Georgia Power customer is already paying about $4 more per month because of this rate increase, and this financial increase will only grow in years 2 and 3.
To make matters worse, Southern Company, the parent company of Georgia Power, announced a $3.5 billion profit last year, up from $2.1 billion in 2021. Despite these record profits, Georgia Power continues to try to raise bills and pass on their outlandish costs to their customers, including around the nuclear plant Vogtle which is more than five years behind schedule.
Georgia Power customers received a one-time credit of about $20 on their March utility bills, but this was due to the enormous profits accrued by Southern Company back in 2019. This is an attempt to curry favor with customers while attempting to rob them behind their backs through the upcoming fuel cost hearing on May 1st.
Georgia Conservation Voters is fighting back against this requested increase! Join us at the end of April for a virtual phone blitz to hold the Public Service Commission accountable to us, their constituents. We will NOT stand for this bill increase that will bankrupt ratepayers while Georgia Power continues to make billions of dollars in profits. It is unjust, corrupt, and detrimental to all Georgians. Stay tuned on our social media and check out gcvedfund.org/events for the latest updates on how to take action with us.