PSC candidates criticize incumbents

A candidate forum in Savannah on Thursday focused attention on an often overlooked board of regulators that determines how much millions of Georgians pay for electricity: the Public Service Commission.

“Very few governmental agencies in Georgia have as much impact on everyday, hard, working consumer lives than this entity,” said forum host Orlando Scott as he opened the event. “There are five elected commissioners in the state of Georgia who regulate investor-owned telecommunications, electric and natural gas services operating in Georgia. They’re to ensure customers receive safe, reliable and reasonable price service from these entities to operate here.”

Voters can cast their ballots Tuesday in the primary election for two seats on the PSC.

The three forum candidates, all Democrats, largely agreed with each other’s positions and focused their critiques on incumbents. Typical was a call for the commission to be tougher on Georgia Power, especially after cost overruns at Plant Vogtle have contributed to six rate hikes since late 2022. 

“We need to stop allowing them to have unchecked rate hikes and we need to ensure that there’s greater transparency in the process,” said Alicia Johnson, who is running unopposed in the District 2 Democratic primary.

A proposed three-year Georgia Power rate freeze isn’t the boon to consumers it might look like, the candidates warned. 

“There’s $700 million in extra profit that Georgia Power is getting in that rate freeze,” said Peter Hubbard, an energy consultant who has provided expert testimony to the PSC and is running in District 3 “There’s an immediate slush fund of money that could be used to lower rates by pushing back there.”

The freeze is being proposed as energy-hungry data centers make plans to expand in Georgia. 

“The whole role of the commission is to make sure the costs are basically borne by those who are responsible for the cost,” said Robert Jones, who is running against Hubbard in District 3.  “And so the Commission needs to go through and scrutinize the finances, the operations, the excruciating detail to make sure the data center costs are borne by the data center. Sadly enough, the commission has walked away from its responsibility to evaluate the financials of the utilities for three years.”

Hubbard criticized a rule the PSC promulgated in January ostensibly to make sure that costs for data centers and other large industrial customers aren’t shifted unfairly onto residential ratepayers. 

“You can drive a Mack truck through the loopholes,” he said. “It says Georgia Power has the discretion to decide if the rate is fair that they’re charging. This is what they’ve been doing, rubber stamping. They’re very reactive. They did this for political purposes. So it’s got loopholes, and it’s not going to protect consumers.”

He also called out the campaign contributions that sitting commissioners receive from representatives of regulated companies.

“Certainly the amount of money that’s flowing in from Georgia Power companies, lawyers, their affiliates, ex officials, the money is egregious, and it has to go,” Hubbard said. “So there’s a lot of ways we can hold them accountable, and I think one of the ways to do that is to get on the commission and start exposing some of that and corrupt practices.”

Savannah resident Tanya Walton came to the forum armed with receipts for her monthly Georgia Power bill that’s held steady at $486 since January, despite her living alone on the first floor only. She told the panel the monopoly utility has been unresponsive to her concerns. 

“Where do you go from there, when there’s no one to come out and have accountability?” she asked. 

An energy audit might be needed, suggested Johnson, who also counseled Walton to contact the PSC. 

About 80 people attended the forum. Some of the voters wished they didn’t have to choose between the District 3 candidates. 

“I think that we’d all be blessed to have the three of you elected,” Mark Toth said.

Not in attendance Thursday were Republicans running for the District 2 seat, Lee Muns and incumbent Tim Echols, who told organizers they were unavailable for the forum. Republican District 3 incumbent Fitz Johnson did not respond to organizers indicated. A third candidate in District 3 Democratic primary, Keisha Waites, was scheduled to attend but canceled, organizers indicated. 

Robert Blackman, also a District 3 Democrat,  was disqualified earlier in the week for failing to meet a residency requirement. He attended the forum but did not participate as a candidate.

As of late Friday afternoon, 70,226 voters – about 0.9% of active voters – had cast ballots in early and absentee voting, according to data from the office of the Georgia Secretary of State.

“It’s probably the lowest profile statewide office,” said Secretary of State Spokesman Mike Hassinger. “And it’s an off-, off-year and it’s a primary.”

Jone said the low turnout was “by design.” PSC elections were knocked off their rotating six-year cycle by a civil rights lawsuit that challenged the at-large voting system. When that challenge failed, the Georgia legislature stepped in to reschedule. 

“Let’s be clear, this election was supposed to be held last year, where you’re gonna have a much higher turnout,” Jones said. “This same District 3 race will be run next year again. So if we win, and when we win and take office in January, I’ll be sworn in, and I gotta go file to basically now start the primary again in February and March. We’re considering it kind of a way to build up for greater momentum going into next year.”