Wednesday, July 1, 2026
Good morning! We have a fish story for you today, followed by a look at the intersection of two popular gripes: summer heat and power bills. Rounding out the lineup we bring you the latest on the nearly complete recount in the Republican primary for a seat on the board that sets rates for those electric bills, the Public Service Commission.
Questions, tips or concerns? Send me a note at mary.landers@thecurrentga.org
NEWS: ENVIRONMENT
Red drum
Newly proposed regulations about the beloved game fish called red drum have a Goldilocks problem. Some Coastal Georgia anglers think the rules are too strict while others think they’re too lenient. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources proposed the changes to combat what researchers see as an overfishing problem revealed by a recent stock assessment, as The Current GA’s Kelley Lu reports. The DNR wants to limit the daily catch to three fish and slightly raise the size of fish that anglers are allowed to keep. The public comment period closed Tuesday. The DNR Board is scheduled to review the proposal on Aug. 25, with implementation planned for Jan. 1.
EXPLAINER: ENVIRONMENT
A hotter, costlier summer
As summer temperatures soar, Georgians will likely see higher electric bills. That’s not only because usage goes up as air conditioners struggle to beat the heat. It’s also due to Georgia Power and other utilities charging higher rates in the summer to discourage customers from using too much energy and overloading the grid, as Emily Jones of WABE/Grist reports.
There are steps to take to make homes more energy efficient, such as unplugging chargers and appliances that aren’t in use, and using programmable thermostats to reduce air conditioner use. Different rate options are also available, but a consumer advocate cautions they aren’t always money savers.
NEWS: ELECTION
Recount complete, almost
The recount of the Public Service Commission race for Seat 3 is expected to be certified today, Robert Sinners, a spokesman for the Secretary of State, told The Current GA. County election boards ran their ballots through scanners ahead of the June 26 deadline to doublecheck their tallies after the losing candidate, Brandon Martin, requested it. Georgia allows a recount if the margin is 0.5% or less, as was the case in this race, which former PSC Commissioner Fitz Johnson won. On Tuesday, only one county was not yet included in the updated totals. “Webster County has completed, but they have a small staff so that hasn’t been officially transmitted yet,” Sinners wrote in an email. Webster’s 578 votes are not enough to flip the vote to Martin, who was trailing by 2,974 votes Tuesday. The certified results will put Johnson on the ballot against Democratic incumbent Peter Hubbard.
Also noted
- A new policy and safety analysis from the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy shows that small plug-in solar units are regulated more heavily than the portable diesel or gas generators that have caused documented line worker deaths. Georgia utilities helped defeat proposed legislation that would have made so-called “balcony solar” more accessible in the Peach State.
- As tick season worsens due to climate change, Lyme disease cases are on the rise, and pharmaceutical companies are seeking regulatory approval for a Lyme disease vaccine. However, vaccine hesitancy, particularly among rural populations, may pose a challenge, as KFF Health News reports.
- France saw around 1,000 additional deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, the country’s public health agency said Sunday, as the head of the World Health Organization warned that Europe is now the fastest-warming continent and needs to do more to protect its citizens, the Associated Press reports.
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Red drum regulation proposal sparks debate
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has proposed tightening red drum bag and slot limits to combat overfishing, which has sparked debate among anglers and conservationists.
Georgia Power just lowered its fuel rate. So why are power bills still high?
Georgians are likely to see higher electric bills this summer due to increased energy use and higher utility rates, but there are steps people can take to reduce their energy consumption and save money.
Update: Recount in PSC race reaffirms a win by Fitz Johnson
Georgia’s 159 counties conducted a recount of the May 19 Republican primary for the District 3 Public Service Commission, which Fitz Johnson won by 2,947 votes, putting the spread within the 0.5% margin for a recount.
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