Georgia Power Customers to Voice Their Concerns at Athens Town Hall
Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols will hear from customers concerned about fee increases on their power bills
Athens, Ga. — Georgia Power customers are expected to attend a town hall tomorrow evening to voice their concerns about Georgia Power’s proposed bill hike in comments to Georgia Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols.
Georgia Solar Energy Association is hosting the town hall with support from Solarize Athens, Environment Georgia, Georgia Beyond Coal Campaign, Georgia Conservation Voters, Partnership for Southern Equity, Sierra Club – Georgia Chapter, and Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 17, 6:30 PM
WHERE: Athens-Clarke County Library, 2025 Baxter St., Athens, GA 30606
VISUALS: Photo and video opportunities available.
MEDIA AVAILABILITY: 6 PM until end of event
BACKGROUND:
Georgia Power’s proposal would impact millions of customers throughout the state with higher bills through a combination of higher power rates and a higher mandatory monthly fee. A diverse coalition of groups representing consumer, business, equity, and environmental interests have proclaimed opposition to the fee hike, pointing out that shifting more of the bill into mandatory fees results in:
- Customers’ loss of some of their ability to control their energy costs by using less energy
- Equity issues since customers who use the least amount of energy would be burdened with the largest negative proportional economic impacts— often seniors and working families earning lower incomes
- Environmental setbacks since the dampened economic incentive to reduce energy use, means discouraging energy conservation, energy efficiency, and customer-owned solar
The Public Service Commission, tasked with ensuring reasonable electric rates for all customers, will take testimony from Georgia Power and third parties about the issue in a series of hearings and will determine by mid-December whether and how much of Georgia Power’s request will be granted.
Additional Background:
Learn more about the proposed fee hike here.
View the rate case filing is docket #42516 on the PSC’s website.
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About Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Since 1985, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy has worked to promote responsible energy choices to ensure clean, safe and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. www.cleanenergy.org
About Georgia Solar Energy Association
The Georgia Solar Energy Association (GA Solar), Georgia’s oldest, largest organization devoted exclusively to the benefits of solar energy for individuals, businesses and communities statewide, offering useful resources, information and opportunities. www.gasolar.org
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About Georgia Conservation Voters
Georgia Conservation Voters’ mission is to advocate for public policies that advance a more just and sustainable future, campaign for candidates who will make climate and environmental justice a priority, and hold elected officials accountable for their actions and votes. For more information, visit www.gcvoters.org