Two House and Senate Legislative committees have unanimously backed proposals that would shift the responsibilities of Georgia’s utilities regulators.
The Senate Regulated Industries Committee passed Senate Bill 457 late last week, which would create a consumer’s utility counsel to advocate for the public in electric rate cases. Earlier in the week, a House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee passed a proposal to place the Public Service Commission in charge of private water companies.
Both bills now head before their respective Rules Committees that determine which bills go before the full chambers.
Republican Sen. Chuck Hufstetler said he filed SB 457 in response to the PSC recently signing off on Georgia Power’s multiple utility bill increases due to increased electricity base rates, overrun costs associated with building the Vogtle nuclear power plant units, coal ash cleanup and other expenses.
The PSC regulates Georgia Power and a number of other public utilities that provide electricity, natural gas, and telecommunications services. The PSC has limited authority over the more than 90 Electric Membership Cooperatives and municipal gas and electric companies located throughout Georgia.
Hufstetler said that while the elected five-member Public Service Commission is responsible for considering public interests when making utility decisions, SB 457 establishes an independent director to ensure that regulators are getting more robust information before deciding on electricity rate cases and other proceedings affecting customers.
“They would have legal standing on behalf of the consumer, and we would join 46 other states, including all those around us, in having someone who advocates for this cause,” Hufstetler said during Thursday’s Regulated Industries Committee meeting. “Of course, it would be subject to budgetary appropriations, but it would be pretty minimal cost.”
The legislation would…
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