Update to an earlier report: This article includes new information about a story we previously covered. Read our earlier report.
Peter Hubbard’s re-election on Nov. 3 gives Democrats a majority on Georgia’s five-member Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities and helps shape the state’s power mix.
Hubbard, a Democrat, won a special election the previous year before winning re-election. Democrats elected last Tuesday will serve six-year terms. The commission’s regulatory role reaches beyond Georgia Power and includes decisions affecting coal and natural gas in the power grid.
Hubbard cited Georgia Power’s Plant Vogtle construction as a cautionary example, saying it increased every Georgia Power customer’s base rate by 25 percent. Brionte McCorkle, executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, said customers had faced six bill increases while the power company expected to report profits.
Gov.-elect Keisha Lance Bottoms has promised to pause new data-center construction. The PSC will have input on data-center regulation after construction resumes.
Marcus Jones
News Now Georgia
