a day ago
Power Bills Are Squeezing Georgians. Voters Could Do Something About It.
Tony Gantt was sitting in his living room in southern Georgia with the lights off, a deliberate choice, showing a visitor his social media exchange with an elected official over skyrocketing electric bills.
'My GA Power bill in Nov 2022 was $159,' Mr. Gantt posted on X last fall, attaching screenshots. 'My bill now is $615 plus. Robbery.'
He got a response from Tim Echols, a member of the Georgia Public Service Commission, which regulates utilities. Suspecting a malfunctioning air-conditioner, Mr. Echols asked Mr. Gantt for more details.
Actually, Mr. Gantt replied, his air-conditioner was new. The only explanation for his 'obscene' bills, he told Mr. Echols, was a series of rate increases that the commission had approved, despite 'people begging you to not raise rates.'
Mr. Gantt will have a chance to amplify his voice on Tuesday, when Mr. Echols will compete in a special primary election. It will be the first time in five years that any of the commission's five members have faced voters.
Georgia is one of only 10 states with elected, rather than appointed, utility regulators, who play a key role in energy and climate policy. So this week's primary and the general election in November, when Mr. Echols's seat and another will be up for grabs, will be a rare referendum on residential electric bills, at a time when prices have risen sharply across the country.
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