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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Advocacy groups say utility regulators who praised rate freeze before hearing violated state rules
Georgia Public Service Commission Chairman Jason Shaw (right) and Commissioner Lauren 'Bubba' McDonald joined Gov. Brian Kemp for a May press conference to tout Georgia Power's proposed rate freeze. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder Three elected state regulators are being asked to recuse themselves from voting on a proposed agreement to freeze Georgia Power's rates over allegations that they violated state rules by publicly endorsing the proposal before an upcoming hearing. Advocacy groups filed a complaint Friday accusing Georgia Public Service Commission Chairman Jason Shaw, Commissioner Lauren 'Bubba' McDonald and Commissioner Tim Echols of showing bias by supporting a proposal between commission staff and Georgia Power that would freeze the base electric rates from 2026 to 2028. Shaw and McDonald are accused of violating state regulations by publicly endorsing the proposed three-year rate freeze during Gov. Brian Kemp's May press conference, which promoted the proposal. According to the complaint, state rules require commissioners to reserve their opinions on the merits of a matter until they have heard all the facts following a hearing. The four nonprofits behind the complaint – Georgians for Affordable Energy, Georgia Conservation Voters, Center for a Sustainable Coast, and Georgia Women's Action for New Directions – recommend that the commission cancel or deny the proposed rate freeze, which would result in a Georgia Power rate case later this year. Another option they floated would be to have an administrative law judge appointed to rule on the base rate plan. Patty Durand, founder of Georgians for Affordable Energy, said the commission should deny the rate freeze plan and instead require Georgia Power to hold its normal three-year rate case this fall that she said could result in ratepayers paying lower utility bills. That would also give regulators a chance to review the utility's commission-approved profit margin, which is currently set at 11.9%. 'Georgia Power's three-year rate freeze is a Trojan horse and absolutely devastating to Georgia Power ratepayers,' Durand said. 'They don't do this out of benevolence. They're a for-profit corporation always seeking to increase profits. This three-year rate freeze does that by locking in high profits through a return on equity that is far above industry norms and delivers $700 million in excess profits annually.' The complaint also refers to a quote from Echols in a May 27 Atlanta Journal-Constitution article about the proposed rate freeze. 'Freezing the rates for three years is the best thing we can do for ratepayers right now, and I have advocated for that incessantly,' Echols said in the article while discussing discount utility programs for seniors and low-income ratepayers. The three commissioners declined to comment on the pending complaint through a commission spokesperson. At the May press conference, Shaw said that freezing rates for 'three years is a very big deal for our state, and it's good for Georgians.' 'At the end of the day, we're going to have an open and transparent process hearing of this agreement,' Shaw also said. 'We're going to have a chance over the next few weeks to meet with all the stakeholders. If anyone has concerns about this agreement, we're going to sit down as we learn more about it ourselves, and have that normal open dialog that we have at the PSC.' Several consumer and environmental groups have expressed concerns regarding the timing of the rate freeze announcement and May press conference. Early voting for the June 17 primary election featuring two commission seats started a week after the press conference. Echols is the only commissioner named in the complaint who is up for reelection this year. Early voting ends Friday as Democratic candidates Peter Hubbard, Robert Jones, Keisha Sean Waites and Daniel Blackman run for the Public Service Commission against appointed Republican Commissioner Fitz Johnson in the Nov. 4 general election. Blackman is still fighting to stay on the ballot, though. A Fulton County Superior Court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday to hear Blackman's appeal after being disqualified for the Atlanta-based seat for failing to meet residency requirements. Georgia voters will also decide this month who will win the GOP primary for the District 2 race that covers eastern Georgia as Republican Commissioner Tim Echols faces challenger Lee Muns. The winner of the District 2 Republican primary will face Savannah Democratic candidate Alicia M. Johnson in the general election. The commission has come under fire for approving six Georgia Power rate hikes since late 2022 that have resulted in the typical household paying about $43 more per month on their electric bills. And bills could still increase, even with the rate freeze. Next year, Georgia Power will file cases with the commission seeking to recoup storm damage and overrun fuel expenses from customers. Georgia Power spokesman John Kraft said that the proposed agreement will balance the company's ability to provide affordable rates to customers while also supporting the growing demands from new customers. State regulators commissioners also adopted a rule earlier this year that requires large-use customers to pay their full electric service costs through Georgia Power. 'We're always working to keep energy reliable and affordable for customers, and this stipulated agreement means no base rate increases for three years – that's great news for every customer,' Kraft said. 'Reaching this agreement was just the start of an open and transparent process, leading up to a vote by the Georgia PSC, which will include opportunities for comment and input from intervenors and the public.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Governor plugs proposed Georgia Power rate freeze agreement ahead of looming PSC member elections
Gov. Brian Kemp, center, is joined at a May 21 news conference with Georgia Public Service Chairman Jason Shaw, right, and PSC Commissioner Lauren 'Bubba' McDonald to praise a proposed Georgia Power rate freeze agreement. Stanley Dunlap/Georgia Recorder Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and state regulators hailed on Wednesday Georgia Power's tentative agreement to freeze base rates for the next three years as a symbol of the state's economic growth. Some clean energy advocates dismissed the timing of the Republican governor's Wednesday press conference as an effort to shore up support for two sitting GOP Georgia Public Service Commission members before they face voters on this year's ballot. On Monday, Georgia Power and the PSC staff reached an agreement for the company to 'freeze' its base electric rates from 2026 to 2028. The PSC is scheduled to hold hearings on the agreement in June that, if approved by the commission, would eliminate the need for this year's planned rate case, which normally occurs every three years. Critics say that despite the rate 'freeze,' Georgia Power customers will still see their utility bills go up as hundreds of millions of dollars from storm damage and fuel recovery expenses are approved. On Wednesday, Kemp credited lower electricity bills with the state attracting 193,000 jobs and $90 billion in industrial investments since 2019. 'We are freezing (rates) because of smart choices by our utilities and buyers, the people you see here beside me today and many other leaders around the state,' Kemp said while flanked Wednesday by PSC Chairman Jason Shaw and Commissioner Lauren 'Bubba' McDonald, who are not up for re-election this year. 'Our rates are stable even in the midst of unprecedented growth because we have a strong, reliable energy grid and strong partners in both private and public sectors. 'Coupled with the falling gas prices, this rate freeze will help Georgia families in the time they needed it most — after historic inflation and storms that challenged many people's day-to-day lives,' Kemp said. This week's announcement is ahead of the early voting period that starts this coming Tuesday for the June 17 primary election for the two commission seats on the ballot this year. The winners will go on to compete in the Nov. 4 general election. Republican incumbents Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson are facing challengers seeking to upset their bids to remain on the board. Echols, who is seeking his third term on the PSC, will face challenger Lee Muns in the Republican primary for the commission's District 2 seat. Whoever wins will face Alicia Johnson of Savannah, the sole Democrat in that race. A large field of candidates qualified to run for the metro and suburban Atlanta area district represented by Johnson, who is seeking re-election after being appointed by Kemp to fill a vacancy in 2021. Clock ticking for Georgia voter registration to elect two new members to Public Service Commission One of the Democratic candidates is Daniel Blackman, who served as a regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency under President Joe Biden, and forced a run-off against McDonald in the 2020 PSC election. Brionte McCorkle, the executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, said the 'freeze' will help Georgia Power ratepayers but said she suspects the agreement and Wednesday's press conference is a political move to avoid voter backlash during an election year. She accuses the five-member commission of having a history of favoring Georgia Power's 'irresponsible investments in fossil fuels' and ignoring public calls for renewable energy. 'Don't get me wrong, I'm excited that there is a pause to the relentless rate increases that Georgians have experienced for the past several years,' McCorkle said. 'But make no mistake, this is definitely an attempt to kick the rate increase down the road when there's not two important elections on the ballot.' During the June hearing, expert witnesses for Georgia Power and PSC staff will present evidence and testimony and be cross examined by consumer and clean energy watchdogs, environmental groups, industrial customers and others. Commissioners are set to take a final vote on the new agreement on July 1. Environmental groups said they'd like to get more information about the negotiated agreement that comes after a series of hikes since the start of 2023. Since then the average Georgia Power residential customer is paying about $43 more to cover base electric rate increases, excess fuel expenses, storm costs and the completion of two nuclear power generators at the Plant Vogtle. Jennifer Whitfield, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, said the 'freeze' doesn't mean Georgia Power customers won't face higher bills since looming storm and fuel recovery costs would result in rate increases. 'What this agreement does is it says the only rate increases that will happen, other than fuel costs that could go up and down in the next couple of years, will be to the base rate for storm costs,' Whitfield said. Shaw emphasized the role of reliable utilities and his own commission in maintaining low energy costs. Shaw denied the agreement was announced in order to ease criticism of board members while on the campaign trail this year. Kemp defended the Public Service Commission's handling of complex utility cases and said it's ironic that there are complaints about base electric rates being paused for three years. 'I think this is good news to sell to our state,' Kemp said. 'The time, to me, doesn't matter. We're talking about an upcoming primary election for down ballot offices that will have to be decided in November. We're not basing our calendars around here on what political elections are coming up.' Georgia Power and PSC officials say that the company's fuel and storm damage costs aren't profit based, but instead intended to cover fuel cost overruns and money spent responding to natural disasters such as last year's Hurricane Helene. Georgia Power was expected to include storm damage assessments as part of its 2025 rate case. Instead, Georgia Power is currently undergoing an audit of storm-related costs and is set to file for recovery expenses in 2026. 'This stipulated agreement helps balance the affordability needs of our customers while ensuring Georgia Power remains equipped to continue its support of our state's incredible growth – which is good for all of our stakeholders,' Georgia Power spokesman John Kraft said in a statement. Georgia Power projects that over the next decade the growth of data centers will significantly increase the state's electricity consumption. The proliferation of data centers has become a source of consternation for a number of consumer and environmental watchdogs. But on Wednesday, Shaw credited the rate case deal agreement with another agreement this year in which Georgia Power agreed not to pass down costs to serve data centers and other large manufacturers onto other customers. 'Part of the reason we're able to stand here today, in my opinion, is because we're able to do things that other states weren't able to do,' Shaw said. 'We're able to show that the revenue from these large load customers is indeed putting downward pressure on rates for others.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Georgia Power to freeze base rates for at least three years
ATLANTA (WRBL) — Georgia Power customers will not be seeing a base rate increase, at least for now. The Georgia Public Service Commission and Georgia Power have come to an agreement that states Georgia Power will freeze base rates at the current level for at least three years. According to the agreement, Georgia Power will not file for recovery of Hurricane Helene storm damage expenses until 2026. The 2025 rate case was expected to include recovery expenses for storm damages, which is generally considered a 'pass through' expense. 'This is a very big deal,' said PSC Chairman Jason Shaw. 'Energy customers have seenunprecedented inflation in the energy sector across the U.S. My fellow Commissionersand I urged staff and Georgia Power to come to some agreement where base rates wouldnot increase. This is nothing but good news for Georgia Power ratepayers. I look forwardto delving into the details of this agreement as we conduct our public hearings.' A Public Service Commission audit of Georgia Power's storm damage expenses is underway. The agreement between the PSC Public Interest Advocacy Staff and Georgia Power will bediscussed during public hearings, scheduled for Tuesday, May 20, where witnesses for staff and Georgia Power can be cross examined by consumer watchdogs, environmental groups, large-load power customers and others. Ultimately, the elected Commissioners must vote for the agreement before it becomes binding. In 2022, a Georgia Power rate case ended with an agreement where base rates were increased over three years. The last of those increases came in January of this year. Per thatagreement, Georgia Power was allowed to request another rate increase this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
GA Power agrees to three-year freeze of base rates
ATLANTA, Ga. (WSAV) — The Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) Public Interest Advocacy Staff and Georgia Power have come to an agreement where Georgia Power will not file an expected 2025 Rate Case. Instead, the company will freeze base rates at the current level for at least three years. 'This is a very big deal,' said PSC Chairman Jason Shaw. 'Energy customers have seenunprecedented inflation in the energy sector across the U.S. My fellow Commissionersand I urged staff and Georgia Power to come to some agreement where base rates wouldnot increase. This is nothing but good news for Georgia Power ratepayers. I look forwardto delving into the details of this agreement as we conduct our public hearings.' In 2022, a Georgia Power Rate Case ended with an agreement where base rates wereincreased over three years. The last of those increases came in January 2025. Per thatagreement, Georgia Power was allowed to request another rate increase this year. The agreement filed Monday extends the 2022 agreement for another three years, leavingbase rates at the current level. The agreement allows Georgia Power to ensure adequate power production and to ensurerates remain stable. The agreement also includes provisions to continue to ensure new large-load customers(such as data centers) cover their costs appropriately in order to protect other rate payersfrom those expenses. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
South China Morning Post
06-02-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
How being super fit helped heart attack survivor, 39, recover in double-quick time
Despite a stuffy nose and tightness in his chest, Jason Shaw felt like running. Advertisement Of course he did. At 39, he had been exercising nearly every day for more than half his life. He had run seven marathons. He led an outdoor exercise group in Indianapolis, in the US state of Indiana, that met before dawn year-round, no matter the weather. And a month before that spring day, Shaw – a full-time software consultant – had taken a big step toward his passion project by signing a lease for a gym he planned to open. When he woke up that morning in May 2021, he thought he was feeling the residual effects of a Covid-19 booster shot or maybe a sinus infection brought on by spring allergies. Before his heart attack, Shaw had been exercising nearly every day for more than half his life. Photo: Courtesy of Jaden Brown But then there was the intense chest pain. He blamed it on his customary indigestion. This time, though, he also felt tightness in his shoulder and jaw, so much so that he asked his girlfriend at the time, Megan Sanctorum, if he was grinding his teeth at night. Advertisement
